The match is in an intriguing position as we enter day two of the PlanetCricket Ashes 2nd Test. Yesterday, England closed on 286 and 6 and it was a real even day between bat and ball. treva frustrated the Australians with a brilliant hundred for England, but he was out towards the end of the day and Highlander999 and Dipak will bat this morning looking to get England up to 350 and beyond. Let's join the action.
95.4 overs: NOT OUT! Australia thought they had their first wicket of the morning as all the fielders went up for a leg before wicket appeal on Dipak, but the umpire shakes his head and the replays show it was going down the leg side.
101.5: FOUR! The England batsmen have been very careful not to be too extravagant this morning. On this occasion, Dipak mistimes a drive and he gets a thick edge that goes through third man for four. Hooper didn't have any slips in place.
103.3: WICKET! Dipak is beaten all ends up by the slower ball from Ryan Harris and his off stump is knocked back. A useful partnership of 43 between Dipak and Highlander999 comes to an end. The new man in is The Author.
Dipak b. Harris 28 (46) 5 fours, 0 sixes
107.3: WICKET! The Author's first innings in a PlanetCricket Ashes Test didn't last very long, he's been bowled by mohsinhbk. He was just playing down the wrong line. England are 337 for 8 now and here comes Near.
The Author b. mohsinhbk 6 (10) 1 four, 0 sixes
110.3: Knocked into the outfield behind square by Highlander999 and that brings up his FIFTY. Well played by the England wicketkeeper, sticking with the tailenders to get boost England's score.
Highlander999 50* (117) 5 fours, 0 sixes
118.6: LUNCH, DAY 2. It's good work from England as they are still batting at the lunch interval. Highlander999 has looked very solid for his half century, and the tail are digging their heels in and sticking around. This is turning into a decent first innings score for England.
LUNCH, DAY 2: ENGLAND 371 FOR 8 (119 OVERS)
Highlander999 65* (148)-----Near 11* (27)
ENGLAND LEAD BY 371 RUNS WITH 2 FIRST INNINGS WICKETS REMAINING
119.4: WICKET! A wicket for Australia in the first over after lunch. Near trapped plum in front of the stumps by mohsinhbk. The number eleven for England is farhans.
Near lbw b. mohsinhbk 12 (30) 1 four, 0 sixes
126.3: WICKET! Australia wrap up the England innings with the wicket of farhans. He's bowled by Umair2000 and the tourists are all out for 390.
farhans b. Umair2000 6 (19) 1 four, 0 sixes
END OF INNINGS: ENGLAND 390 ALL OUT (126.3 OVERS)
treva 117 (237)-----Highlander999 77* (171)
MaD 20-2-61-3 (economy 3.05)
AUSTRALIA ARE 390 RUNS BEHIND WITH 10 FIRST INNINGS WICKETS REMAINING
0.5: FOUR! A sparkling sign of intent from the Australians. Simon Katich smacks a four with a cracking cover drive in the very first over.
6.5: WICKET! England pick up an early wicket, timchrist984 caught in the slips by Pakistani Army. hedger_14 comes to the crease with England with the bit between their teeth.
timchrist984 c. Pakistani Army b. farhans 7 (26) 1 four, 0 sixes
13.4: WICKET! hedger_14 is the man out LBW to Near. The ball just seemed too quick for him and he couldn't get his bat down on it. 39 for 2 now and Umair2000 is the new man - he's been in form for Australia and they need him now.
hedger_14 lbw b. Near 11 (22) 2 fours, 0 sixes
17.6: TEA, DAY 2. England walk off for a cup of tea and a sandwich much the happier of the two sides. They've taken two wickets in the Australian innings and had a better day with the bat than perhaps they expected as well.
TEA, DAY 2: AUSTRALIA 52 FOR 2 (18 OVERS)
Simon Katich 27* (49)-----Umair2000 6* (12)
Near 8-1-22-1 (economy 2.75)
AUSTRALIA ARE 338 RUNS BEHIND WITH 8 FIRST INNINGS WICKETS REMAINING
26.5: WICKET! Not a great deal has been happening since tea, but England now have a third wicket. Umair2000 was trying to play it square on the offside, but was horribly off balance and he could only edge it behind to wicketkeeper Highlander999. 85 for 3. The new batsman is swacker.
Umair2000 c. Highlander999 b. The Author 29 (40) 4 fours, 0 sixes
34.2: FOUR! A superb on-drive from Simon Katich splits the field and the boundary brings up his FIFTY. Great work from the opener, following his 112 in the second innings in Brisbane with a half century.
34.6: WICKET! Katich doesn't add to his fifty, however, as he's been bowled by farhans off the last ball of the over. Just seemed to play all around it and that's a big wicket for England. 116 for 4 now with captain Hooper the next man in.
Simon Katich b. farhans 50 (104) 8 fours, 0 sixes
49.6: CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY 2. There was the odd scare but swacker and Hooper successfully make it through to stumps on the second day. England have done well today, their tail wagged to get them up to a score of 390 and they have taken four wickets in quite a short space of time in the Australia innings. Sir Ian Botham used to say that day three was the most important day of a Test match, and that is certainly shaping up to be the case here at the Adelaide Oval.
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY 2: AUSTRALIA 155 FOR 4 (50 OVERS)
swacker 31* (62)------Hooper 25* (48)
farhans 14-1-45-2 (economy 3.21)
AUSTRALIA ARE 235 RUNS BEHIND WITH 6 FIRST INNINGS WICKETS REMAINING
A day packed full of tension in South Australia, we hope you enjoyed it. Before we go here's the Player Of The Day.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Highlander999 77* (171) 7 fours, 0 sixes
We look forward to your company tomorrow.