Broad revives England’s victory bid in Ashes opener

England's Stuart Broad took two late wickets on Monday to pile pressure on Australia as the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston headed for a dramatic finish.

Australia were making steady progress at 78-1 in pursuit of a victory target of 281 when veteran paceman Broad removed both Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith -- the world's two top-ranked Test batsmen -- to leave the Ashes holders 89-3.

At stumps, the world Test champions were 107-3, still needing a further 174 runs to win on Tuesday's final day.

But Usman Khawaja, who ended his decade-long wait for an Ashes hundred in England with 141 in Australia's first-innings 386, was still there on 34 not out.

The left-handed opener is now set to become only the second Australian, after Kim Hughes against England at Lord's in 1980, to bat on all five days of a Test.
Broad said he was optimistic conditions on Tuesday would favour England's quicks.

"I think there is supposed to be a bit of cloud around tomorrow," he told Sky Sports. "We saw how much it zipped around when there was the cloud the other day."

Broad, who has taken 2-28 in nine overs, added: "We feel pretty confident we can go and get seven (more) wickets."

Khawaja should have been out to just the fifth ball of the innings when he edged James Anderson but neither wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow or first slip Joe Root moved for the catch.

Together with fellow opener David Warner he then settled in on a pitch previously dubbed "soulless" by Broad.

But the breakthrough England needed came when Warner fell for 36, with Ollie Robinson's superb seaming delivery taking the outside edge on its way to Bairstow.

Labuschagne, out for a golden duck in the first innings, reverse-swept fours off successive deliveries from off-spinner Moeen Ali.

Broad, however, proved his undoing on 13 when he poked outside off stump and was caught behind.

Smith fell in similar fashion for just six to the raucous delight of the crowd.

Australia sent in Scott Boland rather than specialist batsman Travis Head and the nightwatchman was 13 not out at the close.

Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took four wickets each in England's second-innings 273.

Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon took four wickets each in England's second-innings 273.

Australia were then rewarded for keeping Brook tied down when he miscued a pull off Lyon to midwicket.

Stokes also fell in the 40s, lbw to Cummins for 43.

Australia were now into England's tail but the last two wickets added 44 runs before Anderson edged behind off Cummins.