Story England's International Season [C07] - The 5th 3Mobile Ashes Test

[Pakistani Army]

Clarke the part-timer got 3 crucial wickets. Keep up the great works m_vaughan!!

 

[plympilgrim]

an ok score for england but well played colly in the end

 

[m_vaughan]

Day 2 Tea Update...

Early wicket - Justin Langer
Steve Harmison has picked up the wicket of Justin Langer for a duck. Just the kind of start his team was looking for after being bowled out for 363 in the first innings.

Harmison was constantly bowling bouncers and Langer decided to have a go at one of them by attempting the pull shot. Unfortunately he wasnt able to hit it cleanly enough and ended up giving James Anderson a rather simple catch.

Hayden-Ponting partnership building
Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting have rescued Australia after losing the early wicket of Langer and their partnership is looking really dangerous at the moment. Ponting especially has looked very good and his cover driving was a treat to the eyes.

Monty breaks the partnership
Monty Panesar has provided the crucial breakthrough that England desperately needed. This partnership between Hayden and Ponting was getting out of hand. Monty forced Ponting on playing a false shot as the latter scooped the ball straight to Kevin Pietersen.

Hussey out second ball
The Barmy Army are signing, shouting and chanting Monty's name as the England spinner has just dismissed Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey for a duck. This just two balls after picking up the wicket of the Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Those two blows have rocked the home side and there will now be a lot of pressure on Hayden and the new man in Micheal Clarke.

So at Tea on Day 2
Australia 82-3 after 33 Overs
England 363 all out after 111.3 Overs
(Australia trail by 281 runs)

 

[surendar]

Hussey going for a duck puts a massive pressure on Aussies! Monty is already looking great and he is the right choice to create further damage.. I still feel, England can win this match.. Com'on Monty.. get them

 

[Pakistani Army]

What a cracker from Monty! Great stuff m_vaughan. Keep up the ace presentation!

 

[plympilgrim]

great bowling by monty, the hussey delivery, the new "ball of the century!"

 

[m_vaughan]

Day 2 Stumps Update...

Underfire Hayden finally delivers
One man who has been underfire this series has been Aussie opener Matthew Hayden. He has struggled to get runs and more importantly give Australia good starts. But that was till now as Haydos scores a vital half century in this fifth and final Ashes test. It wasnt an explosive knock but an important one nevertheless.

And along with Michael Clarke who too is going great guns, these two have once again put Australia in a position of strength.

Clarke falls to Collingwood
Michael Clarke has thrown away his wicket after getting off to such a good start. Trying to sweep Collingwood, Clarke never got on top of the shot and ended up giving Andrew Flintoff some nice catching practice.

Hayden goes for 77
England have got the vital wicket of Matthew Hayden for 77. Andrew Flintoff's sharp and straight delivery rattled Hayden's stumps. This after Hayden seemed all but certain to score a hundred here in Sydney.

So once again two rather quick wickets have checked the initial progress made by Australia and once again they find themselves in a spot of bother with half of the team back in the pavillion and still 169 runs behind.

So at Stumps on Day 2
Australia 194-5 after 59 Overs
England 363 all out after 111.3 Overs
(Australia trail by 169 runs)

 

[Ponting22]

good bowling by Collingwood

 

[surendar]

England gaining upperhand inspite of Hayden's brilliance but with Gilli at the crease, though half of the team is in pavilion, Aussies do have closing in Eng's total or may be small lead also possible!

Next Target for England : Adam Gilchrist Com'on Monty, get him!

 

[gamerkid22]

fantastic bowling by England . They are on top in this match . Just one more wicket will make them feel more relaxed.

 

[Pakistani Army]

They need to get Gilly now. Keep it up m_vaughan!!

 

[plympilgrim]

the aussies are stuggling, carn' england win some pride

 

[Pakistani Army]

Cant wait for next update m_vaughan!

 

[m_vaughan]

Day 3 Lunch Update...

Hodge and Gilchrist prove their worth
Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hodge have scored a crucial partnership just when it was most needed by Australia. Gilchrist stuck to his natural attacking style while Hodge kept rotating the strike.

Gilchrist soon outscored Hodge and got to 50.

Plunkett and Flintoff rock Australia
Just when Hodge and Gilchrist were looking to take Australia closer and closer to England's 1st innings score, England's Liam Plunkett and Andrew Flintoff have struck hard with four quick wickets.

Plunkett got the crucial wicket of Gilchrist for 66 trapping the latter plumb in front of off and middle stump. And the very next over Shane Warne too was out leg before to Plunkett. A greatcome back from Plunkett after going for a few runs initially.

Hodge then got to his half century. A patient and well played knock.

But his decision to play aggressive from their after cost him his wicket almost immediately when he edged an outswinging delivery from Flintoff to the keeper Geraint Jones.

Flintoff then made it 2 in 2 after dismissing Stuart Clark in similar fashion except that the latter was caught at second slip by the captain Michael Vaughan.

Collingwood ends Australia innings
Collingwood picked up his second wicket of the innings and ended Australia's when he had Brett Lee caught at slip for a duck. Australia had collapsed in dramatic style from 272-5 to 285 all out.

Hayden top scored with 77, while Gilchrist bagged a quick 66. Hodge played a crucial role and scored 51 himself. For England Andrew Flintoff picked up three wickets while Monty, Plunkett and Collingwood each got two. Anderson bowled well but was wicketless.

So at Lunch on Day 3
Australia 285 all out after 93.5 Overs
England 363 all out after 111.3 Overs
(England lead by 78 runs)

 

[plympilgrim]

nice lead for england hopefully they can build on it now