[1]Brisbane, Nov. 28: England are on course to salvage the opening Ashes Test after a dominant batting display to overturn a massive innings deficit into a mounting lead on the fourth day at the Gabba on Sunday.
England surged back after Saturday’s fruitless third day in the field to trail by 221 runs and hit the front on the back of a ground record stand between skipper Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook.
At the close, the Ashes holders, cheered on by their chanting Barmy Army fans, were 309/1 with Alastair Cook unconquered on 132 and Jonathan Trott on 54 to hold an overall lead of 88 runs. Strauss and Cook combined for the highest English partnership for any wicket at the Gabba of 188 runs, eclipsing the previous best of 160 between Graeme Hick and Graham Thorpe in 1994.
Scoreboard
England 1st innings: 260
Australia 1st innings: 481
England 2nd innings
Andrew Strauss st Haddin b North 110, Alastair Cook not out 132, J. Trott not out 54.
Extras (b-1 lb-2 w-4 nb-6) 13
Total (in 101 overs) 309/1
Fall of wickets: 1-188.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 26-4-75-0, Siddle 19-3-67-0, North 12-2-22-1, Johnson 18-4-65-0, Doherty 18-3-52-0, Watson 8-2-25-0.
Pic Caption:
England’s Alistair Cook celebrates his century against Australia on Day Four of their first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Sunday.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/openers-turn-tide-eng-291110jpg-846