ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA – ASHES TEST SERIES – SECOND TEST

July 20th, 2009 by Ravi Matah | Posted in Sports   Comments Off on ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA – ASHES TEST SERIES – SECOND TEST
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ENGLAND BEAT AUTRALIA AFTER 75 YEARS

In his final act at the home of cricket, Andrew Flintoff, who has announced his retirement after the series, broke England’s 75-year Lord’s curse with his first five-wicket haul. Flintoff, who bowled unchanged for ten overs from the Pavilion End took  three of the five Australian wickets to fall on Monday

The victory was England’s first in a Test against Australia at Lord’s in 75 years and they beat Australia by 115 runs.

England had won the toss and rightly chose to bat first. In the first innings of the second Test match between Australia and England played at Lords, England scored 425 runs, Andrew Strauss being the century maker who was out for a well made 161.

On the second day, Australia were cruising smoothly at 87/2 and Hussey and Katich,  put in a good batting performance to ensure Australia did not lose any further wickets after the quick dismissal of Hughes and Ponting. But then just after tea, England put in an inspiring performance and got themselves into a strong position.  Australia was left struggling at 156/8 still 69 runs short of avoiding the follow on at the close of play. James Anderson was the star performer for England, grabbing four wickets for 55 runs.  He was well supported by Flintoff, Broad and Onions.

The day fully belonged to England. They bundled out the Australians for a meager 215 runs but did not enforce the follow on.

England in their second innings batted extremely well and declared their second innings at 311 for 6 achieving an overall lead of 521 runs over Australia.

Australia now had to chase a world record target of 522 to win the second Test of the Ashes series. In the second innings Australia made a disastrous start, they were 32 for 2 in the tenth over, both the wickets being claimed by Andrew Flintoff.

 Flintoff took the wickets of Hughes and Katich and both of them were caught in the slip cordon.  Controversy was brewing during the first two sessions and, again, much of the focus centred on Rudi Koertzen, whose 100th Test might well be his most disappointing. The South African official began the fourth day by ruling Simon Katich out to a Flintoff no-ball, but the bigger controversy surrounded his involvement in the dismissal of Phillip Hughes to a claimed catch by Strauss

After lunch Ricky Ponting was bowled by Broad for 38 runs. Hussey and  Clarke then tried to steady the Australian innings and took the score  past the hundred mark. Nothing seemed to be going the Australian way and soon .thereafter  Hussey was caught by Collingwood b Swann for 27 runs.

Marcus North arrived at the crease to join Michael Clarke who was batting at 29  North did not last long and was bowled by Swann for 6 runs. It was a poor display of batting performance by the Australians who had lost half the side for only 128 runs.

Clarke and Haddin ensured England did not have it all their own way.  The unbeaten sixth wicket partnership was worth 185 runs.

It was a great comeback for the Aussies who appeared down and out at one stage when they were 125 for 5 wickets. The way Haddin and Clarke batted with utmost authority it was apparent that they were determined to save the test match. They had the dedication, application and zeal to stay at the stumps. At close of play on day four England were 313 for 5 (Clarke 125*, Haddin 80*)

The final day belonged to England and they took the remaining five wickets to beat Australia  and secure a 115-run win against Australia on the fifth and final day of the second Ashes Test to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

 

Ravi Matah

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