England battle back before lunch on fourth day of second Ashes at Lord's

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England took three wickets before lunch on the fourth day of the second Ashes Test to give the hosts renewed hope of victory. </p>

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After taking control on day three, Australia had the chance to bat the home side out of the game at Lord's, resuming 221 ahead with eight wickets in hand. </p>

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But England's seamers scrapped away valiantly, taking out Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Travis Head to keep themselves just about in the hunt. </p>

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Australia will still feel well on top, leading by 313 at lunch as they moved from 130 for two to 222 for five. </p>

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England already require the second highest chase at the home of cricket, with the West Indies making 344 in 1984, but England have made a habit of hunting formidable targets in the 'Bazball' era. </p>

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They memorably made 378 for three to beat India at Edgbaston last summer and assistant coach Jeetan Patel spoke on Friday about his side's hunger to break records. </p>

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Having lost a handful of their own batters to short-pitched bowling, England mimicked the tactic with a sustained bouncer barrage of their own and enjoyed similar rewards. </p>

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After a messy opening hour that cast neither team in their best light, Stuart Broad removed stalwart opener Khawaja for 77 with a perfectly-directed bumper. </p>

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Khawaja has excelled in the series by showing endless concentration and, after initially refusing to engage, he opened up to hook and picked out substitute fielder Matthew Potts at fine-leg. </p>

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Having already seen a half-chance clear wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow a few minutes earlier, there was no escape for the left-hander this time. </p>

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Head should have followed for a golden duck, slashing the impressive Josh Tongue straight to James Anderson at short point. </p>

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The 40-year-old let the chance burst through his hands, his second drop of the innings, and took an age to pick himself back up. </p>

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Tongue did not allow the disappointment to show, tearing straight back in after the batters crossed ends and dismissing Smith with the very next delivery. </p>

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Smith (34) was the latest player to get sucked into the hook, aiming for the stands but finding the hands of Zak Crawley prowling at deep backward square. </p>

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Tongue raced away in celebration, marking his third success over Smith in as many attempts this summer, starting for Worcestershire against Sussex and continuing in the first innings here. </p>

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The surge continued when Head fended a lifter from Broad towards short-leg, where Joe Root leapt to claim a fine one-handed catch. </p>

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The wind was in England's sails now, but Cameron Green and Alex Carey shut things down to reach the interval, putting on an unbeaten stand of 25. </p>

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