Australia makes a solid start, as England lead by 320 runs
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 made a solid start in their second innings, scoring 95 runs for the loss of one wicket, in response to England’s massive 513-run first innings total. However, England is on the verge of retaining the Ashes, as they require just
nine wickets to retain the urn.
The second session of play belonged to the home team, as they racked up 95 runs at a decent run-rate of 3.2 runs per over, losing the wicket of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phillip-Hughes-c2185 via run-out. The opening batsmen for Australia put up a better show in their second outing,
as they mustered a 53-run partnership in just 11 overs. At the start of their innings, the openers played vigilantly to negate the opening burst from the opposition bowlers. After a few overs, the pair opened up and started playing aggressively. In doing so,
the hosts scored their runs at a brisk rate of five runs per overs.
Phillip Hughes was in a positive frame of mind, and resultantly played quite a few cracking cut shots. The left-hand batsman scored his 23 runs off just 30 balls. Nevertheless, a silly run-out brought about his downfall. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 played a wide delivery
towards the cover region and called his partner for a risky single. Hughes responded to the call, but a flat throw from Trott went straight to the wicket-keeper, where Prior rattled the stumps to run the batsmen out.
Watson played a steady knock, as he posted yet another half century in the series. The Australian all-rounder remained unbeaten for his 50-run innings, and he anchored his team to reduce the first innings lead to 320 runs. Ricky Ponting then joined
Watson, and has looked composed at the crease for his 19-run innings. Ponting has been out of form in the series, and apart from his half century in Brisbane, the Australian captain is yet to register a score of substance. The Kangaroos need their skipper
to fire in the second innings, because only an in-form Ponting can save the Test match for his team.
England’s seamers bowled a probing line, and asked quite a few questions of the opposition players, although they weren’t able to pick up a wicket. Their figures didn’t justify their persistent display with the red cherry. Chris Tremlett
was the pick of the bowlers. While Tremlett’s figures of none for 40 do not suggest how well he bowled with the new ball. In addition, he bowled in a consistent channel, and regularly troubled the Australian batsmen. On another day, the tall fast bowler might
have accounted for at least three dismissals.
Earlier, Jonathan Trott’s marathon effort with the bat enabled England to post a significant first innings total of 513 runs. Trott remained unbeaten on 168 runs, to give the visitors a healthy lead of 415 runs. Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers
for Australia, as he recorded brilliant figures of six for 75. Apart from Siddle, Hilfenhaus was the only other bowler to make an impact with the ball, taking two wickets in the morning session.
Australia have to play out of their skins to salvage a draw in the ongoing Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On the contrary, England needs just nine wickets to retain cricket’s most coveted price.
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