England Maintains Over 200 Lead in Final Ashes Test
After the impressive centuries of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, England has maintained a lead of 208 runs over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 with three wickets still to go in the final Ashes Test match.
With two days' play yet to go, even if the visitors add 50 more runs to the already attained huge lead by the lunch time on tomorrow, it will be rather difficult for the hosts to retain their wickets for a full one-and-half day. Most probably, England is
going to claim Ashes outright in Australia after 24 years.
Cook, the splendid opener who missed his double century by mere 11 runs, provided a solid foundation to his team to take the traditional rivals head on with confidence.
Bell, by putting an impressive 115 on the board, extended full support to the opener in laying a formidable partnership of 154 runs. It was his first century ever at the Ashes. When today’s play was declared over by the umpires, in response of 280 runs by
Australian batsmen, the team England was batting at 488 runs off 7 wickets. In order to draw the series, winning the present match is essential for the hosting squad.
Interestingly, both the centurions survived nerve-testing moments before hitting the triple digit scores. Cook, who had started the morning with 99 runs already on the board, had to face a close call right in the beginning. The player had to wait until umpires
consulted video replays which proved that ball had bounced.
In Bell’s case, the escape was rather controversial as umpire Aleem Dar had declared him out, but he could only survive after help was sought from the DRS. Cook also survived a run-out when he was playing at 129 when Mitchell Johnson just missed the stumps
in the last over before the lunch break.
Though the pitch they had to play on also had turned into a batting friendly one, both of the batsmen depicted a quality game for playing high class shots. Comparing to Cook, Bell’s innings was more aggressive one.
As the sixth wicket partnership lingered on, it started consuming all the energies and spirit of the home side. Despite of Cook losing his wicket soon after the tea break, Bell kept on punishing the traditional rivals on will.
Matt Prior, who was still on the wicket when day’s play was announced to be over, also preferred playing an aggressive and quick innings; he made 54 runs off 59 balls. With Tim Bresnan occupying the other end of the wicket without making any score, both
of them are expected to add considerably into the already alarming lead of the visiting team.
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