England ride their luck as Australia hit back

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – England rode their luck through   a rocky afternoon spell to reach 167-3 in their first innings   at the close of play on the second day of a well-balanced   fifth Ashes test today after dismissing Australia for 280.
Alastair Cook, who was saved from dismissal by a no-ball   review, had made 61 with nightwatchman James Anderson   alongside him on one after a triple blow from the Australian   bowlers had disrupted England’s comfortable post-lunch progress.
“It’s pretty even-stevens, perhaps slightly in our   favour,” said Anderson told reporters. “I think we’ve got a   crucial morning session to get through tomorrow. We’ve really   got to dig in tomorrow and hopefully get a decent lead.”
England have already retained the Ashes courtesy of their   innings and 157-run victory in Melbourne last week but   Australia could still square the series at 2-2 with a victory   this week.
That looked highly unlikely when Australia were reduced to   189-8 in the morning but Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus   then delighted the 40,000 crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground   with a splendid stand of 76 for the ninth wicket.
“Obviously it was a very important partnership myself and   Hilfy,” said Johnson, who made 53.
“It’s always exciting to go out there and score runs…   That just gives us confidence going out there and bowling.”
After dismissing the Australians, England were cruising at   98 without loss in their reply when Hilfenhaus bowled Andrew   Strauss for 60 to reignite the contest.
Johnson then struck to remove Jonathan Trott for a duck   six balls later and England were on the rack.
Kevin Pietersen, who came out to the crease to a chorus of   boos, survived a shaky start, most notably when he hit the   ball between his legs and the stumps when he was on eight.
Cook was approaching his third half century of the series   on 46 when Australia’s debutant spinner Michael Beer thought   he had claimed his first test wicket.
England’s top batsman of the series walked after   ballooning the ball into the hands of Hilfenhaus but umpire   Billy Bowden called him back and checked with the third   umpire, who confirmed that the hapless Beer had overstepped   the crease.
“It can be very frustrating,” added Johnson, who   experienced the same thing in Melbourne when Matt Prior was   saved on five and went on to make 85.
“But I think he handled it very well and the way he bowled   afterwards was a very good sign for us.”
Pietersen look destined to stay with Cook until the end of   the day but, when he was on 36, a rush of blood to the head   saw him mis-time a hook shot off Johnson and Beer took a   comfortable catch at deep backward square.
It was a shot that recalled those made by three Australian   batsmen to edge Anderson deliveries as the hosts lost four   wickets for 55 runs in the morning.