Trott pushes England’s lead to 346
Robert Smith
Jonathan Trott posted his third century in five Ashes Tests to propel
England closer to a series victory in the fourth Test against Australia
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
The South African-born right-hander helped swell the lead to 346 runs
after the tourists batted out the entire second day to take full
advantage of Australia’s record lowest total of 98 in 133 years of Ashes
Tests at the famous ground.
Trott, who hit 119 on his debut in last year’s fifth Ashes Test at
The Oval, has proved to be a thorn for Australia in this series with an
unbeaten 135 in the first Brisbane Test and Monday’s hundred despite
taking a painful blow to the knee. At the close, England were 444 for
five with Trott defiant on 141 and Matt Prior on 75 in a ground record
unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 158 to kill off the Australians’ hopes of
salvaging the Test.
The pair eclipsed the previous English record wicket partnership at
the MCG of 140 between “Patsy” Hendren and Maurice Leyland in 1928-29.
Andrew Strauss’s team need to win only one of the remaining two Tests
to retain the Ashes and capture their first series Down Under in 23
years. Trott, who has now amassed 418 runs for the series at 104.5, had
some luck along the way and needed a referral to avoid a tight run-out
decision on 46, just beating home Ricky Ponting’s throw from the deep.
The quirky number three recharged the England innings after fast
bowler Peter Siddle had revived Australian hopes.
AFP
Australia 1st innings 98
ENGLAND 1st innings
(overnight 157 for 0)
A. Strauss c Hussey b Siddle 69
A. Cook c Watson b Siddle 82
J. Trott not out 141
K. Pietersen lbw b Siddle 51
P. Collingwood c Siddle b Johnson 8
I. Bell c Siddle b Johnson 1
M. Prior not out 75
Extras (b10, lb1, w3, nb3) 17
TOTAL (5 wkts, 136 overs) 444
Fall of wickets: 1-159 (Cook), 2-170 (Strauss), 3-262 (Pietersen), 4-281 (Collingwood), 5-286 (Bell).
To bat: G. Swann, T. Bresnan, C. Tremlett, J. Anderson
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 29-9-72-0 (1w), Harris 25-7-83-0, Johnson 25-2-103-2 (2w 2nb), Siddle 26-8-58-3 (1nb),
Watson 10-1-34-0, Smith 18-3-71-0, Clarke 3-0-12-0. |
