AUSTRALIA GO 2-0 UP IN ASHES WITH EIGHT WICKET VICTORY AT LORD'S

After England were dismissed for 227 in their second innings in the first hour of the fourth day's play, Australia had to raise a mere 14 runs for victory but both Michael Slater and Ricky Ponting perished under the pressure.

Slater attempted to cut Andrew Caddick and edged the ball to Mark Butcher who after dropping two chances yesterday held on to the catch and in the next over, with Australia needing one more run for victory, Ponting was leg before to Darren Gough after making an all run four.

Australia were 13 for two with Mark Waugh, who made a century in the first innings poised for another big moment following his earlier triumph in setting a new Test record in catching with 158 catches.

But Matthew Hayden hit the running run, straight driving Caddick and the celebrations over Australia 2-0 lead in the npower Ashes series started in earnest.

There was more bad news for England with the announcement that Thorpe has been taken to hospital for an x-ray following a blow on the hand from Lee yesterday.

WAUGH SETS RECORD, THORPE HAS AN X-RAY

England were bowled out for 227 in their second innings – the last six wickets falling in 39 minutes and 48 balls – and Australia must now score 14 runs to record their second win in the npower Ashes series.

Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart resumed England’s second innings on 163 for four in front of another packed Lord's crowd and spent the first 20 minutes raising their hopes by maintaining a calm and steady flow of runs.

Mark Waugh, bowling from the Nursery End, proved especially generous and his two over spell added 12 runs to the England total with the first five overs producing 25 runs, most of them off the bat of Stewart who was unbeaten on 12 overnight.

But in the sixth over of the morning, Stewart was trapped by a ball that jagged back from Glenn McGrath and the partnership, which had put on 42 runs for the fifth wicket was broken with Stewart having contributed 28.

Next ball Ian Ward was caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting but Craig White, who was on a pair, let the hat trick ball through to Adam Gilchrist to give McGrath a double wicket maiden.

Butcher played rashly at Gillespie but after an attractive innings of 83, a moment of indiscipline saw him edge the ball to the wicketkeeper and England were staring defeat in the face at 188 for seven.

Another useful tailend grab from Andrew Caddick allowed England to avoid an innings defeat and by the time Gough became Gillespie's fifth victim in the innings – he finished with 5-53, England were 227 all out.

There was more bad news for England with the announcement that Thorpe has been taken to hospital for an x-ray following a blow on the hand from Lee yesterday.

WAUGH SETS RECORD, THORPE HAS AN X-RAY

England were bowled out for 227 in their second innings – the last six wickets falling in 39 minutes and 48 balls – and Australia must now score 14 runs to record their second win in the npower Ashes series.

Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart resumed England’s second innings on 163 for four in front of another packed Lord’s crowd and spent the first 20 minutes raising their hopes by maintaining a calm and steady flow of runs.

Mark Waugh, bowling from the Nursery End, proved especially generous and his two over spell added 12 runs to the England total with the first five overs producing 25 runs, most of them off the bat of Stewart who was unbeaten on 12 overnight.

But in the sixth over of the morning, Stewart was trapped by a ball that jagged back from Glenn McGrath and the partnership, which had put on 42 runs for the fifth wicket was broken with Stewart having contributed 28.

Next ball Ian Ward was caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting but Craig White, who was on a pair, let the hat trick ball through to Adam Gilchrist to give McGrath a double wicket maiden.

Butcher played rashly at Gillespie but after an attractive innings of 83, a moment of indiscipline saw him edge the ball to the wicketkeeper and England were staring defeat in the face at 188 for seven.

Another useful tailend grab from Andrew Caddick allowed England to avoid an innings defeat and by the time Gough became Gillespie's fifth victim in the innings – he finished with 5-53, England were 227 all out.

There was more bad news for England with the announcement that Thorpe has been taken to hospital for an x-ray following a blow on the hand from Lee yesterday.

WAUGH SETS RECORD, THORPE HAS AN X-RAY

England were bowled out for 227 in their second innings – the last six wickets falling in 39 minutes and 48 balls – and Australia must now score 14 runs to record their second win in the npower Ashes series.

Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart resumed England’s second innings on 163 for four in front of another packed Lord’s crowd and spent the first 20 minutes raising their hopes by maintaining a calm and steady flow of runs.

Mark Waugh, bowling from the Nursery End, proved especially generous and his two over spell added 12 runs to the England total with the first five overs producing 25 runs, most of them off the bat of Stewart who was unbeaten on 12 overnight.

But in the sixth over of the morning, Stewart was trapped by a ball that jagged back from Glenn McGrath and the partnership, which had put on 42 runs for the fifth wicket was broken with Stewart having contributed 28.

Next ball Ian Ward was caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting but Craig White, who was on a pair, let the hat trick ball through to Adam Gilchrist to give McGrath a double wicket maiden.

Butcher played rashly at Gillespie but after an attractive innings of 83, a moment of indiscipline saw him edge the ball to the wicketkeeper and England were staring defeat in the face at 188 for seven.

Another useful tailend grab from Andrew Caddick allowed England to avoid an innings defeat and by the time Gough became Gillespie's fifth victim in the innings – he finished with 5-53, England were 227 all out.

There was more bad news for England with the announcement that Thorpe has been taken to hospital for an x-ray following a blow on the hand from Lee yesterday.

© CricInfo

Date-stamped : 22 Jul2001 - 18:34