England lose impetus in victory quest

LONDON, July 18, 2009 (AFP) - England's bid for a first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years stalled after lunch here on the third day.

England, having decided against enforcing the follow-on, were 130 for two at tea on Saturday - a lead of 340 runs.

Ravi Bopara was 19 not out and Kevin Pietersen 28 not out.

But neither batsman looked at their best during a stand so far worth 56 as England, having escaped with a draw in last week's opener in Cardiff, went in search of a win that would put them 1-0 up in the five-Test series. And Bopara was lucky still to be at the crease at all.

The No 3 had made just nine when he edged Peter Siddle only for Australia captain Ricky Ponting, at second slip, to stun his side by dropping the seemingly routine chance.

Then just before tea struggling left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson thought he had Bopara, on 19, caught pulling at mid-on by Nathan Hauritz, fielding following a first innings finger dislocation.

Bopara stood his ground, the decision was referred to the third umpire and, with replays inconclusive, he was allowed to continue his innings.

At lunch, England were 57 without loss after captain Andrew Strauss had opted not to enforce the follow-on.

Strauss, who made 161 in the first innings, was 24 not out and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook, out for 95 first time around, unbeaten on 32 after putting on 196 with his captain on Thursday.

But off-spinner Hauritz, whose selection for this was much derided in Australia, brought his side back into the match with two wickets for no runs in eight balls.

Hauritz struck with his first ball after lunch when Cook was lbw. And he then removed Strauss for 32 with a well flighted, turning delivery that took the edge on its way to Michael Clarke at first slip.

England were now 74 for two, with Strauss seemingly surrendering England's early advantage by not making Australia bat again.

And they could easily have lost two wickets soon after Strauss's exit.

Pietersen, on 10, was in the process of surving an lbw appeal from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus when he scampered down the pitch.

The ball ballooned to Ponting in the slips and his quick-thinking shy at the stumps just missed with Pietersen, unaware of where the ball had gone, well out of his ground.

Johnson, billed as the spearhead of Australia's attack after a successful series in South Africa this year, had struggled for line and length during England's first innings.

And his problems showed no sign of easing when his second delivery after lunch barely landed on the cut strip and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin had to dive in front of first slip to take the ball.

Hilfenhaus, only picked for the first Test after the still-injured Brett Lee was ruled out with a rib problem, did give Ponting some control during an unchanged spell of more than 90 minutes.

		ENGLAND - 1ST INNINGS
(425 - A Strauss 161, A Cook 95; B Hilfenhaus 4-103, M Johnson 3-
		AUSTRALIA - 1ST INNINGS
		(overnight: 156-8)

P. Hughes c Prior b Anderson 		 04
S. Katich c Broad b Onions 		 48
R. Ponting c Strauss b Anderson 	 02
M. Hussey b Flintoff 			 51
M. Clarke c Cook b Anderson 		 01
M. Northb Anderson 			 00
B. Haddin c Cook b Broad 		 28
M. Johnson c Cook b Broad 		 04
N. Hauritz c Collingwood b Onions 	 24
P. Siddle c Strauss b Onions 		 35
B. Hilfenhaus not out 			 06
Extras (b4, lb6, nb2) 			 12
Total (all out, 63 overs, 292 mins) 	215

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Hughes), 2-10 (Ponting), 3-103 (Katich), 4-111 
		(Hussey), 5-111 (Clarke), 6-139 (North), 7-148 (Johnson), 8-152 (Haddin), 
		9-196 (Hauritz), 10-215 (Siddle).
Bowling: Anderson 21-5-55-4; Flintoff 12-4-27-1 (2nb); Broad 18-1-78-2; 
		Onions 11-1-41-3; Swann 1-0-4-0.
		
		ENGLAND - 2ND INNINGS

A. Strauss c Clarke b Hauritz 		 32
A. Cook lbw b Hauritz 			 32
R. Bopara not out 			 19
K. Pietersen not out 			 28
Extras (b12, lb5, w1, nb1) 		 19
Total (2 wkts, 40 overs, 175 mins) 	130

To bat: P Collingwood, M Prior, A Flintoff, S Broad, G Swann, J 
		Anderson, G Onions.
Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Cook), 2-74 (Strauss).

Bowling: Hilfenhaus 16-5-38-0 (1nb); Johnson 10-2-28-0 (1w); Siddle 
		10-4-35-0; Hauritz 4-1-12-2.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Rudi Koertzen (RSA).
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG).
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).

(AFP)