Australia resume Day 3 at an overnight score of 249/1 in 71.0 Ovs in their first innings with Katich on 104* and Ponting on 100*.
Morning Session – Australia 1st Innings
Over 71.4: Beaten! S Broad to S Katich, short of length delivery, gets an unplayable one that explodes off the pitch but was well outside the off stump.
Over 72.6: No runs. M Panesar to R Ponting, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and pushes it to point. Two maidens in a row for England.
Over 73.6: Boundary! S Broad to S Katich, half volley, plays a wristy straight drive between the bowler and mid on and beats Flintoff all the way to the boundary.
Over 75.1: Three runs. S Broad to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, strokes it on the up to the left of mid on and will pick up three easy runs.
Over 76.4: Boundary! M Panesar to R Ponting, on the shorter side, rocks back and hammers it through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 77.1: Boundary! G Swann to R Ponting, full toss, flicks that wrstily past the nin striker for a boundary. Swann has replaced Broad.
Over 78.5: Boundary! M Panesar to S Katich, quicker and flatter in the air, drives the half volley through covers for a boundary.
Over 79.1: Three runs. G Swann to R Ponting, full toss, flicks that past mid wicket and picks up another three runs.
Over 79.5: Boundary! G Swann to S Katich, short and wide, goes back and cuts that loose one between point and covers for a boundary.
Over 80.1: No runs. J Anderson to R Ponting, good length delivery, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Anderson has replaced Panesar ans is bowling with the second new ball.
Over 80.4: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, half volley, drives the juicy outswinger through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 81.1: Wide Ball. A Flintoff to S Katich, short and wide, sprays that towards the first slip fielder from over the sticks! Freddie has replaced Swann.
Over 82.6: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, good length delivery, gets forward and jabs at that away from his body and its an outside edge that races away past gully for a boundary.
Over 83.3: Boundary! A Flintoff to S Katich, good length delivery, stays back and edges it safely past gully for a boundary.
Over 84.6: Out LBW! J Anderson to S Katich, pitched up delivery, Katich fails to get down in time to counter a pacy inswinging yorker that strikes him right on the toe infront of the middle stump and even a laid back Umpire Doctrove is forced to give an lbw!
Over 85.2: Boundary! A Flintoff to R Ponting, short of length delivery, thats down the legside and Ponting glances it away to fine leg for a boundary.
Over 86.6: Two runs. J Anderson to M Hussey, short of length delivery, tucks it past a slightly lazy Bopara at squareleg to pick up a couple. Time for Drinks. Australia 309/2 in 87.0 Ovs (Ponting 138* Hussey 2*)
Over 85.2: Boundary! A Flintoff to R Ponting, short of length delivery, thats down the legside and Ponting glances it away to fine leg for a boundary.
Over 87.3: Four Leg Byes! A Flintoff to M Hussey, bangs it short, tries to duck under that but is very late and the ball smacks on the helmet and flies over the keeper for a one bounce boundary.
Over 89.3: No ball + Sixer! A Flintoff to R Ponting, bouncer, goes for a hook shot and can only top edge it which is enough to sail over the head of Panesar at fine leg for a six, that was a noball so not quite a chance.
Over 90.1: He is Caught! J Anderson to M Hussey, pitched up delivery, goes for a drive to a slightly wide one and can only edge it behind to Prior.
Over 94.2: Single. M Panesar to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, steps out and pushes it defensively to the right of Monty and takes a very silly single, Monty tries to back flick onto the stumps but misses it.
Over 94.5: Bowled him! M Panesar to R Ponting, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back for a drive and the ball holds onto the surface a bit and Ponting ends up dragging it off the bottom edge onto the stumps!
Over 95.1: Boundary! S Broad to Michael Clarke, short and rising delivery, tucks that across between the keeper and short fine leg for a boundary. Broad has replaced Flintoff.
Over 95.4: Boundary! S Broad to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, edges that in his off drive and the ball goes through the vacant gully for a boundary.
Over 98.6: No runs. M Panesar to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and defends it to short leg. That’s lunch on Day 3 with Australia trailing behind by 87 runs with 6 innings in hand. Australia 348/4 in 99.0 Ovs (Clarke 19 North 0*)
Afternoon Session – Australia 1st Innings
Over 99.3: Boundary! S Broad to M North, half volley, plays a stylish drive down the ground beating mid on for a boundary.
Over 99.6: Three runs. S Broad to M North, pitched up delivery, amazing timing from North, he comes in the line and just punches it straight past the non striker and the ball almost goes all the way.
Over 100.3: Boundary! M Panesar to Michael Clarke, on the shorter side, goes back and hammers the arm ball through covers for a boundary.
Over 103.5: Boundary! S Broad to Michael Clarke, half volley, strides well forward and plays a crashing drive through covers for a boundary.
Over 104.3: Boundary! M Panesar to M North, quicker and flatter in the air, bends down on his knee and clubs that flat over wide mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 108.1: Two runs. M Panesar to M North, flighted delivery, goes for a sweep and thats a top edge produced but unfortunately for England there is no short fine leg to take that.
Over 108.5: Sixer! M Panesar to Michael Clarke, flighted delivery, steps out and lofts it straight down the ground over the bowler’s head for a six!
Over 111.6: Boundary! G Swann to M North, on the shorter side, goes back and plays a free flowing drive between point and covers for a boundary.
Over 116.2: Boundary! M Panesar to Michael Clarke, dragged way too short, that’s a long hop, easy pickings, goes completely back and pulls it away for a boundary to mid wicket.
Over 116.6: No runs. M Panesar to Michael Clarke, flighted delivery, steps out and deflects it to short fine leg. Time for drinks. Australia 402/4 in 117.0 Ovs (Clarke 47* North 25*)
Over 116.2: Boundary! M Panesar to Michael Clarke, dragged way too short, that’s a long hop, easy pickings, goes completely back and pulls it away for a boundary to mid wicket.
Over 118.2: Boundary! G Swann to M North, flatter trajectory delivery, goes back and cuts it behind point for a boundary.
Over 120.5: Boundary! G Swann to Michael Clarke, full toss, steps out and drives it through extra covers and reaches his 14th test fifty with a boundary.
Over 120.6: Boundary! G Swann to Michael Clarke, flighted delivery, steps out and drives it flat over extra covers for another boundary.
Over 122.2: Boundary! G Swann to M North, flatter trajectory delivery, thats a brilliant slog sweep against the turn flat towards mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 123.5: Boundary! J Anderson to M North, short of length delivery, onto the pads and North works it fine behind the stumps to beat the diving Panesar for a boundary.
Over 125.2: Single. A Flintoff to M North, good length delivery, flicks that across off his frontpad to mid wicket to bring up the 100 of this partnership.
Over 125.3: Three runs. A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, gets in line of that and strokes it sweetly down the ground for three runs towards long on.
Over 125.6: Boundary! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, bangs it short, pulls that away to mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 126.2: Four Byes! P Collingwood to M North, pitched up delivery, gets forward in defence and is beaten by a big off break that also beats the keeper.
Over 126.3: Four Byes! P Collingwood to M North, pitched up delivery, and again its a fast off break that beats the bat and also the keeper for four more byes.
Over 126.6: Boundary! P Collingwood to M North, short and wide, gets on top of the bounce and plays a back cut behind point for a boundary, that brings up the 450 for Aus.
Over 129.3: Single. A Flintoff to M North, short of length delivery, tucks it across to fine leg to bring up his maiden fifty, he infact has one hundred as well.
Over 129.6: Three runs. A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, short of length delivery, plays a flashy drive past the diving Swann at point and gets three runs. That’s Tea on Day 3 with Australia leading by 23 runs with 6 wickets in hand. Australia 458/4 in 130 Ovs (Clarke 70* North 50*)
Final Session – Australia 1st Innings
Over 132.3: No runs. P Collingwood to M North, pitched up delivery, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Just a bit of drizzle in the air!
Over 132.4: No runs. P Collingwood to M North, good length delivery, defends it off the frontfoot. The rain has arrived and the umbrellas are up!
Over 132.6: No runs. P Collingwood to M North, pitched up delivery, beats the bat in a forward defence and there is a massive lbw shout, bat was close to the pad as well and the Umpire is a reluctant Doctrove.
Rain has stopped play at Cardiff at 4:12 PM local. Its certainly not that heavy and we could be back with live action anytime. Australia lead by 28 runs with 6 wickets in hand. Australia 463/4 in 133 Ovs (Clarke 74* North 51*)
Play again resumed at 6:15 PM and extended upto 7:30 PM with 12 overs more to be bowled in the day’s play. The flood lights have been turned on at the Sophia Gardens, the first time ever this is happening in a Test Match in the UK.
Over 133.4: Boundary! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, short of length delivery, smacks that through covers for a boundary.
Over 136.5: He is Caught! S Broad to Michael Clarke, bangs it short, goes for a pull shot and doesn’t get the room to play that and the ball also hurries onto him to take the glove and end up in the hands of Prior.
Over 138.6: No runs. S Broad to M North, bangs it short, sways away from the line of the delivery. Just a few drops of rain around.
Well the Umpires have decided to suspend play due to rain which is not that heavy at all. The lights have been in full glow and yet the Umpires have decided to take the players in. Its most probably the end of Day 3.
Well yes that’s the end of Day 3 at Cardiff with still the first innings unfinished. Australia have a slender lead of 44 runs and got five more wickets in hand. Australia 479/5 in 139.0 Ovs (North 54* Haddin 4*)