David Warner fell achingly short of another Test century despite riding an incredible run of luck as England squandered opportunity upon opportunity on Day 2.
After being all out for just 147 on the opening day, the tourists came out looking to get Australia on the back foot and the early wicket of Marcus Harris helped their cause.
Warner saw off England’s opening bowlers but was comprehensively bowled by Ben Stokes on 17, only to be called back due to the England all-rounder overstepping.
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The no-ball reprieve was incredibly the fifth in Warner’s Test career, with today’s innings of 94 marking the only occasion in his career he’s fallen short of a century after being dismissed off an illegal delivery.
Following that early chance, the veteran opener was able to break the shackles in a 156-run stand for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne.
However, the chances did not stop coming off Warner’s bat for England.
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The left-hander was on 48 when he nicked England opener Ollie Robinson into the slips cordon shortly after the lunch break, only for Rory Burns to drop an easy chance.
Warner’s incredible run of fortune didn’t end there as he gave England another gilt-edged opportunity to dismiss him on 60, with Haseeb Hameed missing a run-out chance after the opener lost his footing in the middle of the pitch.
The Aussie seemed resigned to his fate having also dropped his bat in the process as he desperately reached towards the crease, only for Hameed to inexplicably miss the stumps by less than five metres out.
Eventually, Warner’s luck came to an end as he spooned a slower delivery from Robinson into the hands of a diving Stokes in the covers.
Warner’s 176-ball innings of 94 marked an incredible turn of fortunes from his previous Ashes campaign back in 2019, with his innings almost surpassing his total Ashes tally of 95 from that series.
The Aussies lost 4-29 in a damaging period – including Warner and then Cameron Green in consecutive balls – but the hosts went to stumps with a 196-run lead.
That was thanks in large to Travis Head belting 112 late in the day to completely demoralise the tourists, who also had Robinson and Stokes injured during the day.