Aussies at the receiving end... again!

Looks like only rain can save Ponting's Australia from defeat at Lord's

Aussies at the receiving end... again!

Looks like only rain can save Ponting's Australia from defeat at Lord's

England, when rain forced an early close on Saturday's third day, were 311 for six, a lead of 521, with two days remaining. Whether they declared on that total overnight, as seemed likely, or batted on, it meant Australia would have to set a new world record for the highest fourth innings total to win a Test, surpassing the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002-03.

History beckons

Both totals were well in excess of the corresponding record for a Test at Lord's, the 344 for one made by the West Indies against England in 1984. England, bidding for a first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years, were indebted to a stand of 86 in 74 balls between Paul Collingwood (54) and wicketkeeper Matt Prior (60).

Their innings had stalled during the second session but Prior, who faced just 42 balls with nine fours, regained the initiative, and helped justify captain Andrew Strauss' decision not to enforce the follow-on, before he was run out by Marcus North's direct hit.

Collingwood, who has batted for over six hours to help England secure a draw in last week's series opener in Cardiff, posted his third fifty in four innings in a brisk 72 balls. They were contrasting innings but each ideally suited to England's task at hand. He was eventually out for 54, having shared a stand of 51 in 50 balls with Andrew Flintoff, who ended the day on 30 not out.

Flintoff on fire

Flintoff took England's lead past 500 with an off-driven four off struggling left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, who at one stage completely lost all semblance of line and length.

Much of Australia's fielding was unusually shoddy, with several fumbles, a dropped catch by captain Ricky Ponting no less and a scruffy display by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who conceded 16 byes, aiding England's cause.

Neither Ravi Bopara nor Kevin Pietersen were at their best during a third-wicket stand of 73.

Bopara's scratchy innings of 27 finally came to an end when he turned off-spinner Nathan Hauritz straight to Simon Katich at short leg. Pietersen, who had been regaining some of his old fluency, fell for 44 when caught off the inside by Haddin off persevering paceman Peter Siddle. Bopara had made just nine when he edged Siddle only for Ponting, at second slip to drop a seemingly routine chance.

Brief scores
England (first innings) 425 all out. Australia (first innings) 215 all out. England (second innings) 311 for six (Andrew Strauss 32, Alastair Cook 32, Kevin Pietersen 44, Paul Collingwood 54, Matt Prior 61, Andrew Flintoff 30 not out; Nathan Hauritz 3 for 80)

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