England have declared their second innings at an overnight score of 311/6 in 71.2 Ovs (Flintoff 30* Collingwood 54). Australia have been set a Target of 522. Start of play on Day 4 is delayed by about 20 minutes due to rain.
Morning Session – Australia 2nd Innings
Over 0.6: Boundary! J Anderson to P Hughes, good length delivery, stays back and cuts it away past point for a boundary.
Over 2.1: Boundary! J Anderson to S Katich, pitched up delivery, drives that on the rise uppishly through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 2.5: Boundary! J Anderson to P Hughes, short and wide, jumps up and cuts that away through point for a boundary.
Over 3.1: He is Caught! A Flintoff to S Katich, pitched up delivery, thats wicket no. 1 for Eng, loose drive away from the body on the up and its a thick edge that is caught by KP at gully!
Replays have shown that Andrew Flintoff had bowled a noball during the dismissal of Katich which was missed by the Umpire!
Over 5.3: Single. A Flintoff to R Ponting, good length delivery, takes his bottom hand off and works it to squareleg for a single. Awkward bounce there for Freddie.
Over 6.1: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, pitched up delivery, drives it to the right of mid off for a boundary.
Over 6.3: No runs. J Anderson to R Ponting, short and rising delivery, has to take evasive action to defend that and cannot avoid getting hit on the knuckles.
Over 8.1: Single. J Anderson to P Hughes, good length delivery, edges that on the frontfoot and Flintoff drops it to his left, that was a low catch which came very quickly.
Over 8.2: Boundary! J Anderson to R Ponting, bangs it short, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it flat behind square for a boundary.
Over 9.2: He is Caught! A Flintoff to P Hughes, good length delivery, pushes at that away from his body and its an edge to first slip which is brilliantly caught by a forward diving Strauss. Hughes stands his ground but Rudi consults with the other Umpire and says that it was a clean catch.
Drinks onto the field now. Australia need 485 more runs to win while England need to take another 8 wickets to go 1-0 up. Australia 37/2 in 12.0 Ovs (Ponting 11* Hussey 0*)
Over 9.2: He is Caught! A Flintoff to P Hughes, good length delivery, pushes at that away from his body and its an edge to first slip which is brilliantly caught by a forward diving Strauss. Hughes stands his ground but Rudi consults with the other Umpire and says that it was a clean catch. Slow Motion replays suggest that Strauss was late in clinching the catch but the third Umpire was never referred.
Over 15.1: Boundary! S Broad to R Ponting, short of length delivery, plays a forceful pull shot in the air towards squareleg and beats Cook to his left for a boundary. Broad has replaced Flintoff.
Over 16.3: Two runs. Graham Onions to R Ponting, good length delivery, gets forward and pushes it to covers for a single and one more from an over throw, that takes Aus past 50.
Over 16.5: Boundary! Graham Onions to R Ponting, half volley, flicks that juicy one through mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 17.6: Boundary! S Broad to M Hussey, good length delivery, edges that safely while trying to come forward and gets a boundary past gully.
Over 18.2: Boundary! Graham Onions to R Ponting, short of length delivery, gets inside the line and whips it wide of Broad at deep squareleg who in the end fumbles that to leak a boundary.
Over 18.3: Boundary! Graham Onions to R Ponting, bangs it short, pulls it away flat towards deep squareleg for a one bounce boundary.
Over 18.6: Boundary! Graham Onions to M Hussey, half volley, plays a crunchy drive betwen the non striker and mid off for a boundary.
Over 21.6: No runs. S Broad to R Ponting, good length delivery, gets hit on the pad outside the line of off stump. That’s Lunch on Day 4 with Australia battling to save the match, they have got 8 wkts in hand. Australia 76/2 in 22.0 Ovs (Ponting 37* Hussey 13*)
Afternoon Session – Australia 2nd Innings
Over 23.4: Bowled him! S Broad to R Ponting, short of length delivery, drags his drive back onto the stumps and the crowd love that!!
Over 26.1: No runs. J Anderson to M Hussey, good length delivery, gets the ball to nip back and strike the groin region of Hussey. Rain can come down any moment now.
Over 26.2: No runs. J Anderson to M Hussey, good length delivery, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. Looks like it has started to drizzle now.
Over 26.6: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, drives that juicy outswinger through covers for a boundary.
Over 26.6: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, drives that juicy outswinger through covers for a boundary.
Over 27.2: Three runs. S Broad to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, gets forward and strokes it through extra covers and picks up three runs.
Over 28.2: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, plays a thunderous cover drive in the gap for a boundary.
Over 28.5: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, drives it on the up through extra covers for a boundary to take Aus past 100.
Over 28.6: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, goes back and plays a spanking cut past point for a boundary.
Over 30.2: Three runs. G Swann to M Hussey, flighted delivery, onto the pads and Hussey sweetly flicks it through squareleg and almost gets a boundary. Great stop in the end from Anderson.
Over 31.2: No runs. S Broad to M Hussey, good length delivery, goes back slightly to defend it. The rain back and so are the umbrellas!
Over 31.4: Boundary! S Broad to M Hussey, short and rising delivery, fetches that from outside off and pulls it through wide mid wicket for a boundary.
Over 32.2: Boundary! G Swann to Michael Clarke, full toss, drives the flighted one through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 32.3: Three runs. G Swann to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, steps out and drives it through covers and steals a third run.
Over 32.4: He is Caught! G Swann to M Hussey, flighted delivery, drives that hard on the frontfoot and ends up edging it to slip where Collingwood takes it with soft hands. Replays suggesting that Hussey was not out, he never nicked the ball and it was a sharp turner off the rough!
Over 35.6: No runs. A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, gets forward and glides it to gully. Time for Drinks. Australia 122/4 in 36.0 Ovs (Clarke 29* North 2*)
Over 37.6: Boundary! A Flintoff to M North, good length delivery, goes after a wide one on the up and slashes it just over the leaping gully for a boundary.
Over 38.4: Bowled him! G Swann to M North, quicker and flatter in the air, gets forward in defence expecting the ball to spin away but its the arm ball instead which comes back with the angle to go through the bat pad gap to strike the timber.
Over 39.1: Boundary! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, short of length delivery, edges his drive through the vacant gully region for a boundary.
Over 40.3: Three runs. G Swann to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, gets forward and nudges it through thirdman to pick up three runs.
Over 41.4: Boundary! A Flintoff to B Haddin , good length delivery, edges his drive through the vacant third slip region to get a streaky boundary.
Over 43.2: Boundary! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, short and wide, plays a cracking cut through covers for a boundary.
Over 43.5: Four Leg Byes! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, strays down the legside with his yorker and Clarke deflects it off his pad to the fine leg boundary.
Over 46.2: Boundary! J Anderson to B Haddin , pitched up delivery, drives it through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 47.1: Three runs. Graham Onions to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, drives it on the up to mid off where a misfielding leaks three runs. Onions has replaced Flintoff.
Over 47.4: Three runs. Graham Onions to B Haddin , pitched up delivery, drives it to covers and there is no single but the fielder has a shy at the non striker end and that leaks three runs!
Over 47.6: Boundary! Graham Onions to Michael Clarke, half volley, plays a free flowing drive to put that wide juicy one away to the cover boundary. That brings up the 50 of this stand.
Over 48.6: No runs. J Anderson to B Haddin , short of length delivery, drives it sweetly back to the bowler. That’s Tea on Day 4 with England just five wickets away from a victory. Australia 178/5 in 49.0 Ovs (Clarke 60* Haddin 15*)
Final Session – Australia 2nd Innings
Over 49.4: Two runs. Graham Onions to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, goes back slightly and flicks it to wide deep mid wicket for a couple.
Over 50.4: Two runs. G Swann to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and dabs it through cover point for a couple.
Over 51.6: Boundary! Graham Onions to B Haddin , short of length delivery, edges that safely past gully for a boundary.
Over 53.1: Three runs. Graham Onions to B Haddin , short of length delivery, punches it through the vacant mid off region to pick up three runs.
Over 54.5: Boundary! G Swann to Michael Clarke, on the shorter side, rocks back and hammers it through extra covers for a boundary.
Over 55.6: Boundary! S Broad to B Haddin , good length delivery, gets forward and strokes it on the up with an open faced blade to put it past the diving point for a boundary.
Over 63.6: Boundary! J Anderson to B Haddin , short and rising delivery, almost tries to give catching practice to the slips and is lucky that the ball flies exactly in the gap for a boundary.
Over 64.3: Single. G Swann to Michael Clarke, flatter trajectory delivery, steps out and works it to long on to bring up the 100 of this stand.
Over 67.5: Four Byes! J Anderson to B Haddin , full toss, strays down the legside and Haddin seems to get some deflection, oh yes of his shirt which races away to fine leg but Umpire gives that as byes.
Over 68.6: No runs. G Swann to Michael Clarke, flatter trajectory delivery, gets forward and turns it to short leg. Time for drinks. Australia 241/5 in 69.0 Ovs (Clarke 90* Haddin 43*)
Over 67.5: Four Byes! J Anderson to B Haddin , full toss, strays down the legside and Haddin seems to get some deflection, oh yes of his shirt which races away to fine leg but Umpire gives that as byes.
Over 71.4: Boundary! P Collingwood to Michael Clarke, short of length delivery, whips it strongly through mid wicket and gets a boundary down the hill.
Over 72.3: Three runs. G Swann to B Haddin , quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and cuts it behind point and picks up three runs.
Over 74.1: Single. G Swann to B Haddin , quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and cuts it behind point to bring up his 3rd test fifty.
Over 74.2: Two runs. G Swann to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, flicks it past mid wicket for a couple and brings up his 11th test hundred.
Over 75.1: Three runs. P Collingwood to B Haddin , good length delivery, goes back and dabs the slower one to thirdman for three runs.
Over 75.6: Boundary! P Collingwood to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, drives it wristily past the diving mid on for a boundary.
Over 76.5: Boundary! G Swann to B Haddin , dragged way too short, that’s a long hop, goes back and pulls it away to deep mid wicket where Onions struggles to stop it to his left.
Over 78.4: Single. G Swann to Michael Clarke, quicker and flatter in the air, goes back and nudges the straighter one to thirdman. That brings up the 150 of this stand.
Over 79.4: Boundary! P Collingwood to B Haddin , short of length delivery, dabs the slower one delicately past Flintoff at short thirdman for a boundary.
Over 79.6: Boundary! P Collingwood to B Haddin , half volley, plunders the slower one through extra covers for a boundary.
ver 80.1: No runs. J Anderson to Michael Clarke, short and wide, let’s that go to the keeper outside the off stump. No carry at all in that. The second new ball has been taken and Anderson has replaced Swann. Australia 287/5 in 80.1 Ovs (Clarke 112* Haddin 67*)
Over 81.1: Boundary! A Flintoff to B Haddin , short and wide, plays late to cut that away over point for a boundary. Fintoff has replaced Collingwood.
Over 81.4: Boundary! A Flintoff to Michael Clarke, good length delivery, stays back and flashes at that and its a fast and thick edge that flies through the gap past gully for a boundary.
Over 82.4: Boundary! J Anderson to Michael Clarke, pitched up delivery, flicks that off his pads through mid wicket for a boundary and that brings up the 300.
Over 84.2: Boundary! J Anderson to B Haddin , short and rising delivery, flashes at that hard with fast hands and its a bullet like edge that flies over first and second slip for a boundary.
The light has been offered by the two Umpire and the Aussie pair do not waste a single second and walk off the park. So England left with 5 wkts to take and Aus needs 209 more runs. And yes that’s Stumps on Day 4. Australia 313/5 in 86.0 Ovs (Clarke 125* Haddin 80*)