Ashes T 2 Day 4 Stumps: England And Australia Alternate Fortunes

It is almost as if England were paying the price for getting wickets a little too cheaply. The honours of the day shifted from England to Australia as day four drew to a close at the second Test at Lord's.

clarkekisses

England would certainly not be feeling as comfortable as they did in the session before lunch or even tea. And the 521 target would not appear as a sufficient target for the Australia the way Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin batted in the final session after tea.

andrew strauss grimaces

England are only five balls away from their first win in the Ashes of 2009. But between their last wicket and possibly the next, the time interval lapsed has been long and testing with no respite in sight.

Australia were perilously close to the end at 128 for five but that was in the session before tea. Thereafter, Clarke and Haddin stitched a valuable and more importantly unbeaten 185 run partnership for the sixth wicket that frustrated England captain Andrew Strauss and England no end. Clarke though had a valuable century to his name as Haddin did with his half century.

Earlier in the day, Australia began the day batting after England declared overnight on 311 for six. Andrew Flintoff won the battleagainst the Australian openers, Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich, but it was not without controversy.

eng hug

Katich was dismissed off a delivery that clearly appeared to have been a no ball as Flintoff overstepped. Hughes was sent off by umpire Rudi Koertzen officiating in his 100th Test for a catch that appeared unclear, caught by Strauss.

But thereafter Graeme Swann effected two splendid wickets for England to feel vindicated about their efforts and their chances. Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, was bowled by Stuart Broad for thirty-eight and thereafter, Mike Hussey was caught by Paul Collingwood off Swann for twenty-seven runs. Marcus North made the day for Swann again after being bowled and Australia in deep trouble at 178 for five at tea.

The session thereafter belonged to the Australian batsmen altogether as their partnership not only denied England the opportunity to make further inroads but also, pushed Australia into the realm of thinking that if England could have a miracle at Cardiff in the first Test, they are not far from one, needing 209 runs with five wickets in hand.

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