Late wickets leave Aussies on top in Cardiff
Kevin Pietersen was out after a poor sweep shot to Nathan Hauritz
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Wednesday, 08, Jul 2009 10:37
Australia claimed two late wickets to end the opening day of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff on top following an afternoon rally from England.
The hosts reached 336-7 at the close of play but will rue the loss of wicketkeeper Matt Prior (56 and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (37) off the bowling of Peter Siddle in the final overs of the day.
It was a rollercoaster day for both sides, with the tourists enjoying a better start while England finished on top during the afternoon session thanks to a partnership of 138 runs between Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood.
However, the soft dismissal of Pietersen (69) halted what was looking like a promising fightback by England.
An ambitious paddle sweep off the bowling of spinner Nathan Hauritz saw Pietersen easily caught by Simon Katich at short leg to hand the initiative back to the tourists with England on 241-5.
Earlier the partnership between Pietersen and Collingwood had seen England bounce back from being 97-3 at lunch - having lost both openers and number three Ravi Bopara in the morning.
The number four and five batsmen led a stirring fightback in the afternoon session, adding just short of 100 runs without loss as both made half-centuries.
But soon after tea the Durham all-rounder (64) was brilliantly caught behind the stumps by Brad Haddin to curtail the batting side's momentum and Pietersen's lazy shot compounded the concern on captain Andrew Strauss' face.
Despite winning the toss and electing to bat on a bright morning, the hosts looked a little shaky in the face of some good seam bowling and a touch of swing.
Early on, opener Alastair Cook (10) edged a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery to Mike Hussey at gully when on just ten to leave the hosts on 21-1 and under some pressure.
Captain Strauss (30) seemed in good touch after scoring the first boundary of the 2009 Ashes with a well-timed square cut through the covers and a couple of other fluid shots.
But he failed to avoid a bouncing Mitchell Johnson delivery that struck his glove and helmet and went high to Michael Clarke at slip for the second wicket at 67-2.
Number three Ravi Bopara got off the mark with a nervy inside edge that ran to the boundary rope past wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
But just after he seemed to have solidified his place at the crease with a few more fours he was out to a brilliant slower ball from Johnson, who claimed his second wicket when Phil Hughes took a simple catch to dismiss the in-form batsman for 35 on the stroke of lunch.
After the interval, Pietersen and Collingwood played watchful cricket as they looked to mount something of a recovery.
Pietersen's half-century yielded just three boundaries as he and the equally cautious all-rounder attempted to secure their places at the crease and build towards a solid partnership.
And although they made it to tea in good shape, 194-3, the loss of Collingwood and Pietersen in the space of six overs meant Australia looked favourites to bowl out England for a below-par total.
However, a late rally from Prior and Flintoff saw Australia on the back foot once more. Prior passed his half-century with a flowing shot through mid-wicket but the partnership ended when Flintoff played onto his own stumps.
Siddle then struck in his next over, catching out Prior with a full delivery that also bowled the England batsman.
Night watchman James Anderson (2) and Stuart Broad (4) remain the not out batsmen as England look to try and progress towards 400 on day two.