Sydney Test: England in command on day 2
England trail Australia by 113 runs and have seven wickets in hand at stumps on day two of the fifth and final Ashes Test being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The third session of the day was even but overall, England are in a better position compared to the hosts.
England were 73 for no loss until tea and Andrew Strauss started his innings at 49 not-out. He continued his aggressive play after the tea session and reached his fifty.
The captain and opening batsman of the visiting team scored quick 60 runs off just 58 balls. He got out just two runs short of a century opening stand with Alistair Cook. He was bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus with an almost unplayable delivery. The ball swung in towards the pads of Strauss and moved away after it pitched.
Jonathan Trott followed just one run later when he was clean bowled out by Mitchell Johnson. Trott was a bit unlucky as he dragged the ball from way outside the off-stump to his stumps. England seemed to be in a bit of a bother when two wickets fell in quick succession.
Kevin Pietersen joined Cook in the middle and both the batsmen took the team away from trouble. Cook was caught at mid-on when he top edged a ball from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Beer-c1949. Umpire Billy Bowden confirmed the legality of the ball and the replays suggested that Beer had over-stepped the mark. Cook was unbeaten at 46 on that stage.
Pietersen was not as lucky as Cook was. He was caught by Beer off the bowling of Johnson three overs before the close of play. He was dismissed for 36 runs.
The Australian bowlers were a little expensive at the start of the innings but both Hilfenhaus and Johnson came back well to put England on the back-foot. Johnson picked up two wickets whereas Hilfenhaus chipped in with one.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 ended the day with a few wickets but they will be hoping to get a few more at the start of the third day’s play to peg England back.
On the other hand, England would be looking up to Cook who is unbeaten on 61 to score a big century and help them take a substantial first innings lead.
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