Australia have their noses in front in the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval despite losing late wickets as they lead by 268 runs in their second innings.

It was another eventful day under lights with the pink ball as Joe Root’s men were bundled out for 227 runs after resuming from their overnight score of 29-1. The hosts were 53-4 when stumps were called on day three.

We look at the good and bad performances for an extremely crucial day in context of the five-match series.

THE GOOD

NATHAN LYON-LED AUSTRALIAN BOWLING ATTACK TOPPLES ENGLAND

Australia’s first innings total of 442-8d showed that there were plenty of runs available on the wicket for the batsmen who can dig it out. England’s batsmen were not allowed the same luxury however as the hosts’ bowling attack showed why they were so feared before the start of the series.

All four of the Australian bowlers chipped in with vital contributions on the third day but it was spinner Nathan Lyon who shone the brightest with a four-wicket haul. The off-spinner got the important scalps of Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali with some nice flight and dip before removing the last England pair of Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the final session. The 30-year-old finished with figures of 4-60 to help Australia to a massive 215 first-innings lead.

Lyon took a stunning return catch to dismiss Ali.

JAMES ANDERSON AND CHRIS WOAKES LEADS FIGHTBACK UNDER LIGHTS

Chris Woakes had earlier led a mini England fight-back along with Craig Overton, making a well made 36 runs. The all-rounder then led another comeback with pink-ball in hand in the final session at the Adelaide Oval with two quick wickets including the massive scalp of Australia skipper Steve Smith.

England’s late charge was spearheaded by James Anderson who removed opener Cameron Bancroft with a perfect out-swinger before trapping Usman Khawaja plumb in front of the wickets.

Woakes then sent back the dangerous David Warner whose outside edge was taken sharply by Root at second-slip before perhaps his most important contribution of the night.

Smith had been reprieved once already after his review overturned the decision to adjudge him leg-before-wicket against Anderson but another review against Woakes could not save him from getting dismissed in the same mode.

Woakes removed Smith as England fought back with the ball.

THE BAD

JAMES VINCE AND JOE ROOT FALL TO NEEDLESS STROKES

England needed a massive day with the bat to keep their hopes alive in Adelaide and there was no doubt that the Aussies were going to come in hard at them on day three.

However, the way the visitors lost their first two wickets on the day will rile the English team management.

In only his fourth ball of the day, Vince went for a stroke he could well have done without to perish to Hazlewood. The right-hander tried to put away a rising back-of-the-length delivery but could only feather an edge to Tim Paine behind the stumps.

The way the skipper fell next was perhaps the most frustrating for the visitors. Root went hard at a full delivery from Cummins but sliced his effort to Bancroft at third slip to depart for only nine runs.

Root departed after attempting an ambitious drive.

ENGLAND’S BATTING WOES BITE THEM HARD

The fall of Root, the cornerstone of England’s batting, set the tone for the day as the Aussie bowlers assumed the ascendancy. What was disappointing for the visitors was that no batsmen got stuck in at the crease to go big.

There were numerous starts in the innings but the fact that debutant Overton top-scored for England coming in at number nine tells you all you need to know about their batting performance on the day.

Cook failed to kick-on after getting to 37 while the likes of Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow were also guilty of throwing away good starts.

If not for the eighth-wicket stand between Woakes and Overton, England’s batting card would have looked shambolic.

England number nine Overton top-scored with 41 on debut.