It was a dominant day for England as they set Australia 412 to win in the first Ashes Test match in Cardiff.
English bowlers impress
The tourists began the day on 264-5, hoping to close the gap between them and England’s 430. They didn’t get off to the start they wanted when Stuart Broad trapped Shane Watson leg before wicket for 30 with just one run added to the overnight score.
It took just over three overs later for England to have their second wicket of the morning, again with the score on 265. Mark Wood had Nathan Lyon dismissed for six. An in-swinging delivery was too good for Lyon and was given out lbw.
Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson then put on 39 for the eighth wicket. Haddin played his way to 22 before James Anderson delivered a beautiful out-swinger with the new ball to find Haddin’s edge. Jos Buttler took the simple catch behind the stumps.
The English bowlers continued to impress and two runs later, Johnson was Broad’s second victim. A leg sided half-volley was clipped in the air to Gary Ballance at mid-wicket, who took an easy catch.
Anderson wrapped the innings up, removing Mitchell Starc. Starc edged to Joe Root at third slip, who took a sharp catch to see Australia all out for 308.
The way England blew away the bottom order was in stark contrast to the previous series in Australia. England’s inability to remove the tail-enders in that series cost them an enormous amount of runs, but that was not the case in Cardiff as they claimed the last five wickets for just 44 runs in the morning session.
With a lead of 122, England aimed to dominate further
On a deteriorating pitch at the Swalec stadium, England knew that an intimidating total for Australia to chase would heap the pressure on. However, they didn’t get off to the best of starts with Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance both being dismissed with the score on 22. Cook could only get to 12 before hitting a Starc delivery to Lyon at Point. Ballance got a ball that lifted dramatically of the pitch and saw it clip his glove on its way to Haddin.
Adam Lyth and Ian Bell then set about extending the lead and both looked comfortable until Lyon found the edge of Lyth’s bat and Michael Clarke took an exceptional one handed catch at first slip.
The Yorkshire opener fell for 37 with the score on 73 and the tourists felt they could get themselves back in the game.
Bell and Root dominate
Out of form Bell and in form Root then put on 97 for the fourth wicket which saw the former rack up 60 to get himself out of a poor recent run in an England shirt.
Root continued his fine form with 60 until a Josh Hazlewood delivery nipped back to dislodged the bails.
Buttler tried to add quick runs but saw his reverse sweep loop up for Haddin to take a simple catch. All-rounder Ben Stokes played with good attacking intent before dragging the ball on to his stumps from Starc for 42.
Yesterday’s star man, Moeen Ali and Wood added 43 for the ninth wicket with Wood playing an attacking cameo of 32 not out off 18 balls, including four fours and one six of Lyon that nearly went into the river behind the stand.
Lyon took the final wicket of Anderson and finished with figures of 4-75 as England were bowled out for 289.
Australia head in to the final two days needing 412 to win on a pitch that is seemingly getting worse. It could be Ali to be the key man again for England as the pitch is starting to favour the spin bowlers.