Ashes 3rd Test: Stokes-Archer century stand, early Weatherald wicket steady England at lunch (Day 3)

Adelaide [Australia], December 19 (ANI): A magnificent 83 from skipper Ben Stokes and his century partnership with Jofra Archer, followed by an early wicket of Jake Weatherald, restored some balance in the third Ashes Test at the end of the first session on day one at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
After England were bundled out for 286 runs in response to Australia's first innings total of 371, Australia ended the session at 17/1, with Travis Head (5*) and Marnus Labuschagne (4*) unbeaten.
England started their day three at 213/8, with skipper Stokes (45*) and Archer (30*) unbeaten.
Stokes started with a beautiful extra cover drive in the first over and eventually reached a valiant fifty in 159 balls, with four boundaries.
After Stokes reached his milestone, he and Archer took a slightly attacking route with a couple of hits against Nathan Lyon, with Archer displaying the grit missing from the top order.
With a single from Stokes, England reached the 250-run mark in 77.2 overs.
In the 82nd over, Stokes continued proving his worth as the ultimate miracle man, with two boundaries in a row against Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, bringing the century stand in 164 balls.
Archer's grind paid dividends as he reached his maiden Test fifty in 97 balls, with five fours and a six.
The partnership ended at 103 runs, with Mitchell Starc making a mess of Stokes's off stump with a wobble-seamed delivery. The skipper was gone for 83 in 198 balls, with eight fours. England was nine down for 274 runs in 84.1 overs.
With the lead finally under 100, Archer and Josh Tongue carried on for a while until Scott Boland cleaned up Archer for a 105-ball 51. England was all out for 286, trailing by 85 runs.
Boland (3/45) and skipper Cummins (3/69) were the top bowlers for the Aussies.
Starting off, Brydon Carse got England just what they wanted, removing Jake Weatherald for just one run. Aussies were down 8/1 in 1.3 overs. Jake was trapped lbw and given out despite the ball pitching outside the leg stump.
A boundary from Marnus Labuschagne took the Aussies' lead above 100. Labuschagne and Head ensured England did not take another wicket.
Earlier, England ended the day two at 213/8, courtesy of a 45-run stand between Stokes and Archer. Despite Ben Duckett (29 in 30 balls, with five fours), Joe Root (19 in 31 balls, with three fours), Harry Brook (45 in 63 balls, with two fours and a six) and Jamie Smith (23 in 26 balls, with three fours and a six) getting starts, they just could not make it count, with England at 168/8 at one point till Stokes-Archer started a rescue act.
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. After being reduced to 94/4 courtesy some incredible bowling from Archer, a 91-run stand between Usman Khawaja (82 in 126 balls, with 10 fours) and Alex Carey brought the Aussies back in the game. Carey went on to get his first Ashes ton, scoring 106 in 143 balls, with eight fours and a six. Starc (54 in 75 balls, with eight fours) also continued a dream run with the bat as the Aussies piled on 371 runs.
Archer (5/53) was exceptional for England, while Brydon Carse and Tongue got a couple each.
Brief Scores: Australia: 371 and 17/1 vs England: 286 (Ben Stokes 83, Jofra Archer 51, Scott Boland 3/45). (ANI)