Australia strike back in third Ashes Test
Friday, December 15, 2006 05:52 [IST]
Perth: Australia struck back tellingly on the second
day of the third Ashes cricket Test against England at the WACA Ground here.
Dismissed late on the opening day for just 244, the home side
rebounded to secure a 29-run first innings lead and bowl England out for 215 in the last
over before tea on Friday.
Kevin Pietersen top scored for the English with 70, while
tailenders Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar put on the biggest partnership of
the innings, adding 40 potentially crucial runs for the last wicket.
The English looked set to concede a significant first
innings deficit at 128 for seven, but the efforts of Pietersen, Harmison (23)
and Panesar (16 not out) frustrated the Australians and kept the tourists in
the match.
All five of the Australian bowlers enjoyed success, but
Stuart Clark was the pick of the group with 3-49.
At times Clark was almost
unplayable and he beat the bat countless times, while the seam bowling of
Andrew Symonds netted two important middle order wickets at a cost of just
eight runs. The Australian fightback on the second day revived their
hopes of regaining the Ashes here, as they already lead the five-Test series
2-0.
It was another disappointing batting effort by the English,
who started the day at 51 for two and were looking to consolidate after the
bowling heroics of Panesar and Harmison on Thursday.
However, as on the final day in Adelaide they collapsed early, this time to a
combination of lively bowling on a bouncy pitch and poor shot selection.
Having claimed two wickets during an uncomfortable period
for the England
batsmen just before stumps on the first day, it took the Australians just four
overs to strike again.
Paul Collingwood, unmovable during the second Test batting
collapse, paid the price for a loose stroke and was caught in gully by Matthew
Hayden from the bowling of Glenn McGrath (2-48) for 10.
Wickets then fell regularly as the English struggled to put
together a significant partnership.
Opener Andrew Strauss was striking the ball sweetly, but on
42 he aimed a drive at the probing Clark and
was given out caught behind.
Replays seemed to indicate the ball had just missed the
outside edge of the bat.
England
skipper Andrew Flintoff made just 13 before falling to Symonds and struggling
wicketkeeper Geraint Jones made his third successive duck of the tour.
Pietersen held the England innings together and
started to strike some lusty blows, but holed out to Symonds at long-off from
the bowling of Brett Lee.
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