LONDON, July 18, 2009 (AFP) -
England were leading by 521 runs with 4 wickets remaining at stumps on the third day.
England, having decided against enforcing the follow-on, ended the day 311 for 6 with
Andrew Flintoff not out on 30 and Paul Collingwood just out before the stumps for 54 after a 51 run association for the 5th wicket.
 |
| England's Matt Prior (R) plays a shot watched by Australia's Brad Haddin during the England second Innings on the third day of the second Ashes Test match at Lord's cricket ground in London, on July 18, 2009. AFP |
Before that England’s wicket keeper batsman Matt Prior exploded to score 61 runs when he was run out. Prior in his 42 ball stay hit nine fours.
Then just before tea struggling left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson thought he had Bopara, on 19, caught pulling at mid-on by Nathan Hauritz, fielding following a first innings finger dislocation.
At lunch, England were 57 without loss after captain Andrew Strauss had opted not to enforce the follow-on.
Strauss, who made 161 in the first innings, was 24 not out and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook, out for 95 first time around, unbeaten on 32 after putting on 196 with his captain on Thursday.
But off-spinner Hauritz, whose selection for this was much derided in Australia, brought his side back into the match with two wickets for no runs in eight balls.
Hauritz struck with his first ball after lunch when Cook was lbw.
And he then removed Strauss for 32 with a well flighted, turning delivery that took the edge on its way to Michael Clarke at first slip. England were now 74 for two, with Strauss seemingly surrendering England's early advantage by not making Australia bat again.
And they could easily have lost two wickets soon after Strauss's exit.
Pietersen, on 10, was in the process of surving an lbw appeal from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus when he scampered down the pitch.
The ball ballooned to Ponting in the slips and his quick-thinking shy at the stumps just missed with Pietersen, unaware of where the ball had gone, well out of his ground. Johnson, billed as the spearhead of Australia's attack after a successful series in South Africa this year, had struggled for line and length during England's first innings.
And his problems showed no sign of easing when his second delivery after lunch barely landed on the cut strip and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin had to dive in front of first slip to take the ball.
|
E-mail