The Ashes 2013: Australia vs England- Gabba Test, Day 3

Updates from the third day of the first Test between Australia and England.

Zee Media Bureau

SCORECARD» I COMMENTARY» ==================================================================================== ENGLAND: (2nd innings) OVERS: 15 II SCORE: 24/2 Australia have tightened their grip on the first Test at Gabba on the third day by picking up two crucial English wickets early. They have set them a massive target of 561 runs to win. Clarke introduced spin in Nathan Lyon in the 13th over and in it came just one run. The final two overs of the day (14th and 15th) were safely seen through by Pietersen and Cook. ==================================================================================== ENGLAND: (2nd innings) OVERS: 10 II SCORE: 19/2 Trott began the sixth over, bowled by Johnson with a pull for four to fine leg. Five runs came in it. The next resulted in one run. Johnson began his fourth over with a shirt ball and Trott went for another pull. However, he ended up being caught by Nathan Lyon at backward square leg. He departed after scoring just 9 (9b, 4X1). Kevin Pietersen walked in to bat next. Cook struck his first boundary with a sumptuous stroke straight down the ground off Peter Siddle in the 10th over. That was the only scoring shot in it. ==================================================================================== ENGLAND: (2nd innings) OVERS: 5 II SCORE: 4/1 England have been dealt early blow in Michael Carberry who was bowled by Ryan Harris off the fourth delivery of the fifth over. He went back for a duck. Earlier Alastair Cook and Carberry took guard for the visitors as they look to chase down 561 run-target set by the Australia. Ryan Harris took the new ball and bowled a maiden. His bowling partner, Mitchell Johnson also bowled a maiden from the other end. The next resulted in one thanks to a leg bye while the fourth also resulted in no runs. Jonathan Trott came in to bat at no.3 and got off the mark collecting a triple. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 94 II SCORE: 401/7 Australia have finally declared their second innings after taking a mammoth lead of 560 runs. Three runs came from the 91st over. In the next, off the fourth delivery, Haddin completed his second half-century of the Test. Johnson smacked Swann’s first delivery to deep midwicket region for his fourth boundary. Tremlett ended Haddin’s stay at the crease having him caught at mid-off by Anderson. He scored 53 (4X5). Peter Siddle came in to bat next and struck a boundary to open his account. Two more leg byes were added to the total in the over before Clarke signalled declaration. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 90 II SCORE: 381/6 Haddin collected his fifth boundary in the 85th over, bowled by Anderson thanks to a top-edge. That over fetched Australia seven runs. The next by Broad brought them two more while Swann replaced Anderson in the 87th allowing just one in it. Tremlett came back into the attack and Johnson hit his fourth delivery straight down the ground for his first boundary. Swann continued and leaked 13 more runs including a boundary to Johnson and four leg byes besides two couples and a single. The lead is now worth 529 runs. Tremlett’s third delivery of the 90th over was short and Johnson pulled but ended up getting an edge over keeper’s head for a boundary. That shot brought a wide smile on Clarke’s face. He bettered it the next delivery hitting it for a six over long on. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 82 II SCORE: 332/6 Joe Root began the proceedings of the final session. Five runs came from his 14th over. From the other end, Swann picked up his second wicket in George Bailey in the following over. Bailey played for the wrong line and ended up being bowled. He scored 34 (61b, 4X1, 6X2). Mitchell Johnson came in to bat next. He joined Haddin in the middle. Remember - this is the same pair that turned the tide in Australia’s favour. Haddin upped the ante in the 81st over, bowled by Anderson collecting 15 runs in it with the help of three boundaries, a couple and a single. He pulled the penultimate delivery of the 82nd over for his fourth boundary. Seven runs came from it. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 77 II SCORE: 299/5 England managed to send centurion Michael Clarke back to the pavilion few minutes before lunch. Clarke was looking to play across for a big shot against Swann and ended up being bowled. He scored 113 (130b, 4X9, 6X1). Brad Haddin came in to bat next. Bailey pulled Root in the 76th over to score his first boundary of the innings. Swann bowled the final over before tea and allowed just one in it. Australia have stretched their lead to a massive 458 now and still have five wickets in hand. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 70 II SCORE: 278/4 The 61st over, bowled by Broad, resulted in two boundaries – both by Clarke. In the next, Tremlett removed Smith having him caught by Prior behind stumps. He went without troubling the scoreboard. One run and a wicket from the over. George Bailey came in to bat next. Bailey was watchful while playing his first 15 delvieries. However, he unleashed himself upon Root in the 66th over sending his first delivery over deep midwicket fence for a six. His next six came in the following over of Swann. That over resulted in 10 runs. England had the chance to end Bailey’s stay when he flicked one from Root to Bell at short leg. However, the fielder failed to hold on to it. Bailey was on 17 then. Off the first delivery of the 70th over, Clarke collected a couple to reach his century. He was calm in his celebrations – a feeling of satisfaction evident on his smiling face. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 60 II SCORE: 234/3 Warner moved to 99 with a boundary off Anderson in the 51st over. After a tense five deliveries, Warner drove Root’s third delivery of the 52nd over through extra cover to collect three runs and complete a well deserved century – his fourth in Tests and first in Ashes. Swann replaced Root in the 54th over and Clarke danced down the track hitting him over long on fence for a six. He followed that with a triple and Warner responded with a boundary. 16 came from the over. Cook continued with Anderson from the other end. Five runs came in it. He showed faith in Swann and let him bowl another over even though his last turned out to be pretty expensive. Warner dispatched him for another boundary off the first delivery of the over. It was another productive over for Australia that fetched them 12 runs. Cook turned to his bowler-in-form Broad. Clarke guided his third delivery through gully for his seventh boundary. Warner continued treating English bowlers with disdain and had no respect for even Broad whom he smoked for a six straight over his head. However, Broad induced an edge from Warner and had him caught by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. He looked utterly disappointed while leaving the field. He scored 124 (154b, 4X13, 6X1). Steve Smith came to bat next. ==================================================================================== AUSTRALIA: (2nd innings) OVERS: 50 II SCORE: 173/2 The overnight Australian pair of David Warner and Chris Rogers resumed the innings on the third morning of the first Ashes Test. James Anderson began the proceedings from England’s end. The first over of the day resulted in just two. Stuart Broad joined Anderson from the other end and immediately made impact with the wicket of Rogers. It was the first delivery of the 24th over and Broad kept it short. Rogers top edged it to Michael Carberry at point. He scored 16 (81b, 4X1). Shane Watson came in at no.3 and faced 25 deliveries before striking his first four of the innings. However, that turned out to be his last scoring shot as a delivery later he ended up top edging Chris Tremlett at mid on. He scored 6 (27b, 4X1). His departure brought skipper Michael Clarke to the crease who opened his account with a couple. Cook brought Broad back into the attack in the 32nd over and Clarke struck him for two successive fours off his fourth and fifth delivery. Rain came to halt the proceedings in the 33rd over forcing the players from both the sides to take cover in the dressing room. It turned out to be a brief interruption and the play resumed. Spin in Graeme Swann was introduced in the 35th over and in it came four runs. Warner scored his fifth boundary of the innings in the 38th over, bowled by Tremlett. The next came off Swann in the 39th over. Clarke continued with his aggressive approach pulling and driving Tremlett for two consecutive boundaries in the 40th over. Tremlett conceded one more boundary in his ninth over before Cook replaced him with Joe Root minutes before the lunch break. Warner greeted him with cover drive for four. The 45th over, bowled by Swann, was the last before lunch. The play recommenced and the Oz pair of Warner and Clarke continued scoring four boundaries in the next four overs – one in each.