Australia and England poised for a tense last day
Australia were looking comfortable before Onions broke the spell
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By Adam Leveridge
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Sunday, 02, Aug 2009 07:48
Australia rallied to 88-2, a mere 25 runs behind, but England put themselves in a strong position going into the final day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
The wickets of Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting in quick succession put England on top after Katich and makeshift all-rounder Shane Watson made an opening partnership of 47. Graham Onions and Graeme Swann made the breakthroughs, Swann bowling the Australian captain with a beautiful delivery that dipped and turned.
Ponting had been lucky to survive a huge lbw shout two balls before, but it was soon irrelevant, as Swann dismissed him for 5.
The tourists have resisted since then, with Watson (34*) and out-of-form Mike Hussey (18*) staving off the England bowlers in the dying light. Hussey almost recorded a king pair when Onions was just inches away from claiming a diving catch that would have meant a golden duck in each innings to the same bowler.
Earlier in the day, England reached 376 before being bowled out, giving them a lead of 113. Ian Bell made 53, Matt Prior 41, Andrew Flintoff 74 and Stuart Broad 55, while Australia's Ben Hilfenhaus took 4-109 to become the series' leading wicket taker.
England will need to make early inroads on the morning of the final day if they are to have any hope of turning this Test from a draw into a win. They will surely fancy themselves, though, having taken seven wickets on the morning session of the second day.
If their bowlers perform as Onions and James Anderson did that morning, England could go into the fourth Test at Headingley with a 2-0 lead in the series.
Huw Davies