03 August,2009 08:56 AM IST | | AFP
England gave themselves an outside chance of winning the third Ashes Test after capturing the prize wicket of Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the fourth day here at Edgbaston yesterday.
Australia at stumps were 88 for two in their second innings, needing a further 25 runs today, the final day, to make England, 1-0 up in the five-Test series, bat again.
Graham Onions, who took four first innings wickets, struck in his third over when an excellent full length delivery had Australia opener Simon Katich edging to wicket-keeper Matthew Prior.
Big wicket
Graeme Swann then produced a classic off-break which beat Ponting's forward defensive push and bowled the batting great for five. Australia were now 52 for two after England had taken two wickets for five runs in 11 balls.
Andrew Flintoff had earlier put England on top after Saturday's total wash-out had reduced the chances of a win for either side.
His 74, on the ground where he made two valuable fifties in England's nailbiting two-run Ashes win four years ago, was the centrepiece of the home side's 376, which gave them a first innings lead of 113.
At the close, recalled all-rounder Shane Watson, who top-scored with 62 in Australia's first innings 263, was 34 not out and Michael Hussey 18 not out.
"It was a nice to get a few runs. We are an attacking side. If we see it we hit it," said Flintoff.
"If we get a good start on Monday, and get a couple of wickets, we can win."
Flintoff insisted a series of tense exchanges between the two sides on Sunday were firm but fair. "It's competitive. You can see what it means to both sides, but nothing spilled over."
England, who took nine wickets in under a day on Friday, now need eight and time to chase a potential target to go 2-0 up with two to play.
They were on the backfoot at 168 for five, 93 runs behind, when Flintoff came to the crease.
Vital partnership
But he shared valuable and rapid partnerships of 89 and 52 with Prior and Stuart Broad respectively, with Broad going on to make 55. Broad completed his fourth Test fifty off just 62 balls with a forceful pull off Ben Hilfenhaus and next ball disdainfully drove the swing bowler back over his head for another boundary.
He was last man out when fast bowler Peter Siddle held a caught and bowled chance.
