Collingwood fights lonely rearguard battle

Australia reduced England to 169 for seven at tea in their second innings on the final day of the first Ashes test on Sunday during an attritional afternoon session.

Paul Collingwood fought a dour, rearguard act to reach 55 not out after more than four hours at the crease but at the interval England still trailed by 70 on the first innings with 34 overs remaining. Ben Hilfenhaus, bustling in from the River end, captured the wicket Australia prized most by knocking over Kevin Pietersen's off-stump in the fourth over of the day's play.

Pietersen, on eight, moved half forward and opted to leave alone a delivery he calculated would swing away. Instead it went straight on.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz took over from Hilfenhaus and immediately troubled captain Andrew Strauss and Collingwood with four fielders clustered close around the bat.

Strauss square-cut the first boundary of the day but was out off the next ball caught behind by Brad Haddin for 17 attempting a similar shot from a delivery which bounced a little higher.

Hauritz was gifted a second wicket when Matt Prior (14) made the elementary error of trying to cut an off-spinner which turned appreciably and succeeded only in guiding the the ball to Michael Clarke at first slip.

Reuters