Ashes 2010-11 – 3rd Test, Day 3: Australia ends second innings at 309
Australia finally came out on top in the third Ashes Test, propelled by Michael Hussey's brilliant 13th Test century at the WACA Ground in Perth.
Hussey's hundred came off just 136 balls, with the Western Australian left-hander maintaining his record of passing 50 in every innings in the series. He has scored 517 runs at an average of more than 100 in five test innings,
including three half-centuries. He brought up his century after being at the crease for 261 minutes, with a powerful pull through square-leg for his 13th boundary off England fast bowler Chris Tremlett.
The 35-year-old Hussey, who has now made more runs in this series than in any in his career, has become the first batsman in Ashes history to pass 50 in six consecutive innings. He has scored a half-century in each of his visits
to the crease during this Test series. He started the series in Brisbane with 195, and scored 93 and 52 in the second Test in Adelaide, and 61 in his first innings at the WACA.
Meanwhile, Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 was chasing his third Test century and was playing flawlessly until he was trapped leg-before-wicket by Tremlett. Watson immediately appealed against umpire Marais Erasmus' decision but was sent packing
back to the pavilion when it was not overturned, his dreams of scoring his first Ashes hundred cut short. Watson was out for 95, after having been at the crease for 241 minutes and 174 balls, hitting 11 boundaries. Together with Hussey for the first century
partnership of the match, he added 113 runs to the board for Australia to rescue his team from an unstable 64-3.
Steve Smith, Australia's new no.6 batsman, also contributed 36 runs in a 75-run stand with Hussey.
At teatime, the Australians were 297-8, with an overall lead of 378, with Hussey still unbeaten on 111 and Peter Siddle on three not out.
The innings ended when Hussey was caught near the leg side by Graeme Smith, providing a fifth Test wicket to Tremlett. Australia had lost their last five wickets for 38 runs. By the end, only Ben Hilfenhaus was not out, without
scoring. Australia were bowled out for 309 soon after tea.
Tremlett took 5-87 off 24 overs to take a lead of the English bowlers, while Steve Finn took three wickets.
Australia need to win this match in order to level the series and keep their hopes of winning the Ashes alive. If England, however, can score the requisite 391 runs within the remaining two days and win this Test, they will have
won the Ashes. But things are not looking good for the visitors at the moment – England have only ever successfully chased a total above 300 in the fourth innings of a Test match three times. Their biggest ever chase was back in 1928 at the Melbourne Cricket
Ground, when they made 332-7 to defeat http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
Update: England came out to bat on the third day, and by the end of play were 81-5.
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