CARDIFF, (Reuters) – Joe Root again put Australia’s bowlers to the sword and together with Ian Bell gave England the platform yesterday to push for victory in the first Ashes test after setting the tourists 412 to win with two days remaining.
Root followed up his first-innings century with another stylish knock of 60 and Bell (60) ended a poor run of form as England, desperate to atone for their humiliating 5-0 reverse in 2013-14, were bowled out for 289 to end an eventful third day’s play in which 15 wickets fell.
Australia did fight back in the last hour by taking five wickets but some lusty blows from tailender Mark Wood (32 not out) allowed England to set an imposing target on a pitch offering some signs of life after a docile first two days.
Australia have chased down only one 400-plus total in Ashes history — 404 in 1948 — but forecast rain may come to their aid on the final day on tomorrow.
Establishing a lead of 122 after the tourists lost their last five wickets for the addition of 44 in the morning, England recovered from the early departures of Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance with Root again to the fore.
After Adam Lyth hit a belligerent 37 before being brilliantly caught at slip by Michael Clarke, Bell eased into form that made a mockery of his total of 56 runs in nine previous test innings.
His serene half-century included 11 boundaries and sumptuous cover drives, taking his lead from Root who again strode out to the wicket full of confidence and intent.
Bell’s innings came to an end on the next delivery after crashing Mitchell Johnson over the covers, playing inside a good length ball to be bowled — the paceman’s first wicket of the match after 36 fruitless overs.
Root was quick to seize on anything with width, much to a capacity-crowd’s delight at Sophia Gardens, and may have lost concentration when he was pinned on the back foot by Josh Hazelwood and was bowled off his pads.
Australia were on the backfoot from the start of day three when they lost Shane Watson (30) and Nathan Lyon (6) with the addition of one run to their overnight score.
Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who enjoyed a superb Ashes series in 2013-14 when he finished top of Australia’s averages with 493 runs, fell to James Anderson who polished off the innings with the new ball.
SCOREBOARD
England 1st innings 430 (J. Root 134, M. Ali 77, G. Ballance 61, B. Stokes 52; M. Starc 5-114)
Australia 1st innings (Overnight: 264-5)
C. Rogers c Buttler b Wood 95
D. Warner c Cook b Anderson 17
S. Smith c Cook b Ali 33
M. Clarke c&b Ali 38
A. Voges c Anderson b Stokes 31
S. Watson lbw b Broad 30
N. Lyon lbw b Wood 6
B. Haddin c Buttler b Anderson 22
M. Johnson c Ballance b Broad 14
M. Starc c Root b Anderson 0
J. Hazlewood not out 2
Extras (b-6 lb-11 w-3) 20
Total (all out, 84.5 overs) 308
Fall of wickets: 1-52 D. Warner,2-129 S. Smith,3-180 C. Rogers,4-207 M. Clarke,5-258 A. Voges,6-265 S. Watson,7-265 N. Lyon,8-304 B. Haddin,9-306 M. Johnson,10-308 M. Starc
Bowling J. Anderson 18.5 – 6 – 43 – 3 S. Broad 17 – 4 – 60 – 2(w-1) M. Wood 20 – 5 – 66 – 2 M. Ali 15 – 1 – 71 – 2 B. Stokes 14 – 5 – 51 – 1(w-2)
England 2nd innings
A. Lyth c Clarke b Lyon 37
A. Cook c Lyon b Starc 12
G. Ballance c Haddin b Hazlewood 0
I. Bell b Johnson 60
J. Root b Hazlewood 60
B. Stokes b Starc 42
J. Buttler c Haddin b Lyon 7
M. Ali c Haddin b Johnson 15
S. Broad c Hazlewood b Lyon 4
M. Wood not out 32
J. Anderson b Lyon 1
Extras (b-7 lb-6 w-6) 19
Total (all out, 70.1 overs) 289
Fall of wickets: 1-17 A. Cook,2-22 G. Ballance,3-73 A. Lyth,4-170 I. Bell,5-207 J. Root,6-236 J. Buttler,7-240 B. Stokes,8-245 S. Broad,9-288 M. Ali,10-289 J. Anderson Bowling M. Johnson 16 – 2 – 69 – 2(w-1) J. Hazlewood 13 – 2 – 49 – 2 M. Starc 16 – 4 – 60 – 2(w-1) N. Lyon 20.1 – 4 – 75 – 4 S. Watson 5 – 0 – 23 – 0 Referees Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena Umpire: Marais Erasmus TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle
