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Cricinfo
England v Australia, Lords, Day 2
Hedger_14 score's fourth Test century
Cricinfo staff
July 17th, 2009
Australia 2/204 Hedger_14 108*
England402 BKB1991 81, dutchad 78, Covvy 3-105, skillex_x 2-38
Skillex_x celebrating the wicket of chrisdowns22
Just 3 overs into the day, Australia got wicketkeeper age of the fall caught behind by gutterman for 45 off only 54 deliveries, courtesy of a biggy09 bouncer, he tried to back away and push through the offside, resulting in a small knick through to the keeper. Out.
Skillex_x struck, removing cricket_22, caught at leg slip by hedger_14, as he tried to flick a ball down to fine leg, but failed at both hitting it squarer, and to the ground, gone for 7. Suddenly, England seemed in trouble at 7/360.
Biggy09 and skillex_x were having a hard time getting a wicket, and a bit tired, so Covvy and Feelin Blue? came into the attack, Covvy striking in his 3rd over, removing Adityacricketer, and exposing the tail, with help from OffCutters, taking a solid catch in first slip.
Gary123 and Gazza_11 had an over each before the lunch break, but England went in at the good position of 8/398, these two frustrating the Australians. After the break, Australia attacked again, with skillex_x and biggy09, with skillex_x striking, removing chrisdowns22 for 49, with help from Jakester1288, taking a nice catch.
Biggy then bowled an absolute Jaffa to remove just_cricket, out for 6, ending his 35 ball resistance.
It was time for Australia to bat. hedger_14 and Hooper headed to the crease, and started a solid partnership. When the score ticked over to 0/47, Hooper tried to play an aggressive shot to cricket_22, but failed, just popping up a catch to BKB1991.
Jakester1288 and hedger_14 continued until tea, where the score was nicely positioned at 1/67, still 335 in arrears to England's first innings. After the break, hedger_14 powered past his 50, and Jakester1288 followed, then hedger_14 brought up his 4th Test Century, this one better than his previous, considering the circumstances. On the very last ball of the day, Jakester1288 tried to slap a good length ball down the ground, but could only result in sending a return catch, a tough one but well taken, to the bowler, just_cricket. Australia have ended the day at 2/204, which should be 1/204 if the captain's stupidity didn't prevail, but instead, he was on his way.
How will the rest of the Australian batsmen perform? Can England bundle them out and bat again, and bat Australia out of the game? Will it be a close finish?
Join us tomorrow to find out, right here on Cricinfo.
Good to see you back.
