adminLONDON. — Australia chiselled out four key England wickets to take control of the fifth and final AshesTtest on an absorbing third day at the Oval in London yesterday.The hosts, replying to Australia’s 492 for nine declared, lost Alastair Cook for 25, Joe Root (68), Jonathan Trott (40) and Kevin Pietersen (50) on the way to 247 for four.
Although rain is forecast today, Australia are in a strong position to claim a consolation victory and English hopes of winning a home Ashes series 4-0 for the first time look to be over. Ian Bell was unbeaten on 29 and Chris Woakes on 15 at the close with England still trailing the touring side by 245 runs and needing another 46 to avoid the follow-on.
Cook and Root, resuming on 32 for no wicket, batted cautiously through the first hour under clear blue skies against tidy but largely unthreatening fast bowling.
Root produced two neat wristy flicks to the mid-wicket boundary and Cook drove Ryan Harris square for four but runs were generally hard to come by.
The pair had taken their opening partnership to 68, England’s best of the series, when Cook nibbled at a wide ball from Harris just after the drinks break and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a diving catch.
The England captain swished his bat in frustration as his disappointing series continued and his dismissal sent Root into his shell.
The 22-year-old failed to score a run off 19 balls in a row but he pulled Peter Siddle for a single just before lunch to reach his half-century, made from 145 deliveries and including eight fours.
It was a welcome return to form for Root, who has struggled with the bat since making 180 in the second test at Lord’s, and England took lunch on 97 for one. — Reuters
Online Reporter