LONDON, (Reuters) – Australia moved with ruthless professionalism yesterday towards victory in the first Ashes test against England before rain brought a premature end to the fourth day.
Marcus North (125 not out) and Brad Haddin (121) put on exactly 200 for the sixth wicket to join Simon Katich (122) and captain Ricky Ponting (150) among the centurions.
It was the first time in Ashes history that four Australians have scored centuries in one innings and Australia’s 674 for six declared compiled over more than 12 hours was their fourth highest total against England.
Ponting’s declaration after Haddin was caught on the boundary attempting a fourth six meant England needed 239 to make Australia bat again.
A distant target looked beyond reach when Alastair Cook (6) and Ravi Bopara (1) were both out lbw playing across the line in the half hour before tea. England were 20 for two but as they left the field the rain started to fall and play was finally called off at 5.37 pm (1637 GMT).
Three sessions still remain in the match and the weather is forecast to improve today giving Australia every prospect of sealing victory in the first Ashes test staged in the Welsh capital.
ASHES DEBUT
Australia resumed on a warm, overcast morning with their first innings score already standing at an intimidating 479 for five.
North, who scored a century on debut against South Africa this year, and wicketkeeper Haddin proceeded to bat England out of the match by adding 98 in the morning session. North reached his second test century in three tests just before the interval.
The pair, both on Ashes debut, accelerated after the interval with Haddin swiping Graeme Swann for a huge six over mid-wicket to bring up the 600.
He reached his 100 from 138 balls before he was finally caught by Bopara off Paul Collingwood. Each of the five frontline England bowlers conceded more than 100 runs,
England then lost Cook playing across a full-length delivery from Mitchell Johnson and Bopara in similar fashion trying to work Ben Hilfenhaus to leg.
“We are sitting in a good position, at the moment there is probably only one winner,” North told a news conference.
“Hopefully the weather stays away and we get a full day’s play tomorrow, we’ve got a healthy lead on a wicket that’s wearing.”
Collingwood said: “It’s been a tough day, the last couple of days have been tough. I guess that’s what Ashes is all about. You come up with these kinds of days and you’ve got to respond to them.
“Tomorrow we’ve got an opportunity as a team to respond to that. We’ve got tonight to regroup, refresh and have a look to see what the job is in hand and that’s to bat out three sessions.”
