Stunning Lyon, Starc catches floor England

ADELAIDE: Two freakish Australian catches rocked England´s diminishing hopes of saving the second Ashes Test on a fast-moving third day at Adelaide Oval on Monday.

Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc pulled off stunning caught and bowled efforts to leave the tourists reeling and facing a massive deficit in the first-ever day-night Ashes Test.

Everything that could go wrong for Ashes holders England did on a demoralising day in the context of the five-Test series.

Australia tightened their grip on the pink ball Test and they pursue a 2-0 lead in the series after winning last week´s Brisbane opener by 10 wickets.

At the dinner break, England were 219 for eight in reply to Australia´s imposing first innings declaration of 442 for eight with Craig Overton not out 36 and Stuart Broad yet to score. They trail by 223 runs.

Lyon pulled off an athletic one-handed catch to dismiss Moeen Ali off his own bowling in the second over after the first break.

Moeen chipped to the left of Lyon, who flung himself across the pitch in a split second reaction to take the catch.

Lyon, nicknamed GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), again produced a sublime piece of cricketing skill following his laser throw to run out James Vince in the first Brisbane Test. Moeen had scored 25 off 57 balls in a 30-run stand with Bairstow.

Five overs later Bairstow was on his way for 21 after Starc juggled the return catch and finally accepted it behind his back.

It left the tourists in further strife at 142 for seven but Chris Woakes and Craig Overton dug in to put on 66 for the eighth wicket before Woakes fell to a short-pitched Starc delivery spooning a catch back to the bowler for 36.

Australia grabbed four wickets in the first session, including key batsmen Joe Root and Alastair Cook.

Australia broke through for the prize wicket of England skipper Root in the day´s seventh over.

Root shaped to drive Pat Cummins only to send a thick edge to Cameron Bancroft at third slip for just nine.

Root, third in the Test batting rankings, only faced 10 balls and England´s confidence plunged as he departed.

Cook, England´s other big hope, was deceived by Lyon´s flight and edged to Steve Smith at slip for 37 off 90 balls.

The former captain, who plundered 766 runs when England won in Australia seven years ago, has scores of two, seven and 37 in his three innings in the current series.

It was off-spinner Lyon´s 50th Test wicket against England.

Vince went in the day´s second over to a poor shot, edging Josh Hazlewood outside off-stump to wicketkeeper Tim Paine for two.

Dawid Malan was the other wicket to fall off an inside edge caught behind to Cummins for 19.