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Starc Holds Firm: Unbeaten 46 Pushes Australia 116 Ahead On Day 3 At The Gabba

10:33 AM, 12/06/2025

Mitchell Starc finished an unbeaten 46 as Australia reached 450-8, extending their first-innings lead to 116 on Day 3 at the Gabba. Starc and Scott Boland added an unbroken 34-run partnership, with Starc often shielding Boland from the new ball. Alex Carey earlier top-scored in the lower order with 63, while England’s bowlers found it hard to maintain consistent length. Starc also leads the Ashes series in wickets with 16 after his ten-wicket haul in Perth.

BRISBANE — Starc Uses Bat To Extend Lead As Australia Reach 450-8

Mitchell Starc punished England with the bat rather than his pace in the first session on Saturday, steering Australia to a 116-run first-innings lead on Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Starc finished the session unbeaten on 46, sharing an unbroken 34-run stand with Scott Boland (seven not out) as Australia reached 450-8 and took the long interval in the day-night match.

Australia resumed on 378-6, a 44-run advantage, after overnight partnerships. Alex Carey quickly moved to his fifty with a single off England captain Ben Stokes. Michael Neser was dismissed for 16 later in the same over, bringing Starc to the crease with the score at 383-7.

The new eighth-wicket pair added 33 runs. Starc drove a boundary off Brydon Carse in the 79th over to carry Australia past 400, before Carey fell shortly after the new ball was taken. Carey faced 69 deliveries and struck six boundaries before being caught behind off Gus Atkinson.

At 416-8, England would have fancied wrapping up the tail and batting in the afternoon sun, but their bowlers again struggled for consistent length. Starc, content to occupy the crease, frequently took singles to retain strike and protect No. 10 Boland from the new ball.

He hit back-to-back boundaries off Carse to push the lead beyond 100, then lofted the final ball of the session deep into the outfield for three to take Australia to 450, ensuring he would start the middle session on strike.

Series context: Starc remains the series-leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps after his 10-wicket match haul in Perth.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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Starc Holds Firm: Unbeaten 46 Pushes Australia 116 Ahead On Day 3 At The Gabba - CRBC News