England dominant as Aussie top order crumbles at Adelaide
AUS 1st Inns 245 & 160/3 ENG 620/5 dec.
After a gigantic lead of 375 runs the English team has the Australians quaking on day four of the second Ashes Test match at the Adelaide Oval.
Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 551/4, the tourists piled on some quick runs reaching a staggering 620/5 before calling their innings off. Kevin Pietersen was the top scorer as he converted his double ton
into 237 runs before he fell.
He faced 308 balls in all, striking as many as 33 fours and 1 six before becoming the lone victim of left arm spinner Xavier Doherty.
On the other hand, the right hander Ian Bell completed his half century and was undefeated on 68, striking 8 fours in his innings as the English Captain Andrew Strauss declared the innings with his team on top over their rivals.
The Australians were under immense pressure from the outset as they aimed to wipe off the enormous lead, or bat out the remainder of the match on what was gradually turning out into a spinning wicket.
The opening pair of Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Simon Katich looked assured at the start and built a solid partnership to raise the Aussie’s hopes.
Katich was playing fluently and struck some fine shots as he moved towards a half century, however he was sent packing by a fine piece of spin bowling by Graeme Swann. The left-hander scored 43 off 85 balls including 6 fours.
Watson was joined by Captain Ricky Ponting who fell for a first ball duck in the first innings, the veteran of 150 Test matches tried his best to take his team out of trouble by producing a typical back against the wall knock.
Swann though had other ideas, he kept probing away in the rough outside the off stump and was eventually rewarded when Ponting was snapped up by Paul Collingwood in the slips for 9 runs off 19 balls.
The body blow of losing Ponting hurt the Aussies badly, Watson meanwhile completed his second half century of the match yet once again failed to convert it into a big hundred.
The opener was sent packing by fast bowler Steve Finn as he edged a catch to Strauss in the slips.
The Aussies were taken to the tea interval by Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Mike Hussey, the two would have to bat a long time yet if they are to save the test for their team.
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