http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 marching towards victory in Perth
Australia can sense a series leveling victory after their bowlers remained dominant on the third day of the third Ashes Test. Australia had an 81-run lead from the first innings, and their batsmen capitalised on that, extending it to almost 400 runs. England
would have hoped for a better show in the second innings, but the batsmen failed against the devastating spell from the Australian bowlers.
Australia had a 200-run lead, and the overnight batsmen Michael Hussey and Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 continued to build on their lead in the match. Watson got out in the 90's once again after he was caught plumb in front of the stumps. He scored 95 runs, and this was
the fourth time in his career that he missed out on a century, and got out in the nineties.
Though he got out the job was well done for Australia, as he had constructed a century stand alongside Hussey, who continued to dominate the English bowlers. Hussey became the first batsman to score six consecutive scores of 50 plus in an Ashes series. He
built on his start, and scored his 13th career century. He was well supported by Steve Smith, who scored 36 runs before getting caught down the leg-side off Chris Tremlett.
After that the Australian batsmen didn’t manage to score more runs, and the wickets fell continuously. At one stage Australia was 252 for four, but the team was all out on 309. Australia would have hoped to take their lead to 400, but they fell 10 runs short
of that.
England was helped by Tremlett who took five wickets in the innings, and a total of eight wickets in the match. This was his first five wicket haul. He was well supported by Steve Finn, who claimed three wickets in the innings.
Considering their current batting form, England would have fancied their chances to chase down the total of 390 runs. All their hopes were turned into ashes, after the Australian bowlers completely dominated them.
None of the English batsmen were able to match the Australian bowling, and at the close of play, England was 81 for five. Jonathan Trott offered some resistance by scoring 31 runs, but he lost his wicket off the last ball of the day. No other English batsmen
was able to score big runs, and the only unbeaten batsman was night watchman James Anderson.
For Australia, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson grabbed a couple of wickets each, whereas Ben Hilfenhaus claimed one wicket. The day was dominated by the Australian team once again, and the chances of them levelling the series are very high.
England can only hope for a miracle to save the match, otherwise Australia will complete their first win of the Ashes 2010-11.
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