Cook, Bell put England in command
Centuries from Alastair Cook and Ian Bell put England within sight of
their first series victory in Australia for 24 years after a dominant
third day at the final Sydney Ashes Test on Wednesday. Cook again
tormented Australia with 189 while Bell scored his elusive first Ashes
century, breaking an 18-Test drought against Australia with 115 to leave
England with a commanding 208-run lead and two days play to force a
result.
When bad light ended play with five overs left, England were 488 for
seven with Matt Prior on 54 and Tim Bresnan yet to score.
It puts the tourists in a strong position having already retained the
Ashes after a convincing victory over Australia last week in the fourth
Test in Melbourne.
Cook was finally out driving at Shane Watson and edged to a diving
Michael Hussey at gully after tea, while Bell was caught at slip by
Michael Clarke off Mitchell Johnson.
"We obviously had a really good day," Cook said. "But we have to go
out and win that first hour tomorrow and get as many runs as we can to
build our lead up then put Australia under some pressure with our
bowling."
Cook blunted Australia's attack in over eight hours' of supreme
concentration spread over 342 balls with 16 fours.SYDNEY, AFP
AUSTRALIA 1st innings 280
(M. Johnson 53, S. Watson 45; J. Anderson 4-66):
England 1st innings
(overnight 167 for 3):
A. Strauss b Hilfenhaus 60
A. Cook c Hussey b Watson 189
J. Trott b Johnson 00
K. Pietersen c Beer b Johnson 36
J. Anderson b Siddle 07
P. Collingwood c Hilfenhaus b Beer 13
I. Bell c Clarke b Johnson 115
M. Prior not out 54
T. Bresnan not out 00
EXTRAS (b3, lb2, w5, nb4) 14
TOTAL (7 wkts, 141 overs) 488
Fall of wickets: 1-98 (Strauss), 2-99 (Trott), 3-165 (Pietersen), 4-181
(Anderson), 5-226 (Collingwood), 6-380 (Cook), 7-487 (Bell)
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 29-5-104-1 (1w), Johnson 26-3-97-3 (2w), Siddle
26-5-98-1 (1nb 1w), Watson 20-7-49-1 (2nb 1w), Beer 29-2-85-1 (1nb),
Smith 10-0-48-0, Hussey 1-0-2-0
To bat: G. Swann, T. Bresnan, C. Tremlett. |
