STUBBORN AUSSIES GRIND IT OUT

Bright start from Stokes' men spoiled by errors and Khawaja ton

- Gideon BROOKS

PLENTY had predicted the margins would be fine in this eagerly awaited and closely matched Ashes.

Yet as shadows lengthened the stands slurred in the late afternoon sunshine, Edgbaston was given the perfect demonstration of how fine.

With Australia opener Usman Khawaja having batted brilliantly to 112, anchoring Australia's reply to within 128 runs with five wickets in hand, Stuart Broad exploded his stumps with the second delivery with the second new ball.

Yet as he trudged past umpire Marais Erasmus, he was reprieved, the South African holding out a big right arm to signal no-ball.

It was tight, the heel of Broad's left boot missing the crease by no more than a quarter of an inch but it was correct nonetheless.

An hour after Khawaja had regathered his concentration, the Aussies had moved to 311-5 for no further loss, just 82 adrift of England's first-innings declaration.

More than any other on another enthralling day's cricket, that moment looked pivotal as England and Australia wrestled for the upper hand.

Khawaja was the day's standout performer on a day of redemption, with the opener dropped seven times by Australia in his Test career and who, in 15 Ashes innings over here, had passed 50 just once.