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Collingwood defies Aussie attack Warne wears down defiant England
(about 3 hours later)
Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen produced a welcome show of defiance for England as they battled to avoid defeat in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Spinner Shane Warne took four wickets to put Australia on course for victory in the Brisbane Test.
England reached 150-3 at tea on the fourth afternoon with Collingwood 56 not out and Pietersen unbeaten on 25. But England restored pride through the efforts of Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen to end day four on 293-5.
They came together when Alastair Cook was caught at short leg for 43, a second victim for spinner Shane Warne. Collingwood missed out on a century when he was stumped off Warne for 96, ending a stand of 153, but Pietersen was still there at the close on 92.
Australia declared on 202-1 during the morning after Justin Langer reached his 23rd Test century - with a lead of 647. Australia declared during the morning session with a lead of 647 after Justin Langer completed his 23rd Test century.
The day began with the majority of the home fans hoping for an early declaration from Ricky Ponting after the anti-climax of the final session on day three. Skipper Ricky Ponting called a halt when Langer dabbed away a single to reach three figures, his 146-ball innings including eight fours.
He duly obliged after one ball of the sixth over, which Langer dabbed away for a single to bring up a 146-ball hundred. Ponting's own share of their 134-run partnership was 60 not out, but he hurt his back during the brief spell in the middle and was unable to field.
Ponting's share of an unbroken stand of 134 was 60 not out but worryingly for Australia, he sustained a back problem during the mini-session and was unable to take the field with his players at the start of England's innings. There was a further concern for the home side as Glenn McGrath, who took 6-50 in England's first innings, had to operate at a slightly reduced pace because of a sore heel.
Lee and McGrath found the cracked pitch unresponsive as they probed for an early breakthrough with the new ball and it looked as if a long attritional struggle lay in store for both sides. Warne, meanwhile, was not at his best despite his wickets, which cost 108 runs.
But Strauss (11) paid the price for another injudicious stroke as he hit a rising ball from Clark straight to substitute fielder Ryan Broad. It was the second time in the match that he had succumbed attempting the hook shot. Collingwood grew in confidence after an uncertain start
England could not afford another error of judgment from Strauss He was shown little respect by Collingwood and Pietersen who produced a flurry of boundaries after tea and showed his frustration by hurling the ball back towards Pietersen after fielding off his own bowling at the end of an over in which he was twice hit through mid-on for four.
England's first innings was a rarity in that Warne, the most successful bowler in Test history, failed to pick up a single wicket. Pietersen had to hurriedly fend it away from his chest before marching down the pitch to vent his feelings towards his Hampshire team-mate.
He was not to be denied a second time, however, as Ian Bell missed the slider, a front of the hand delivery which goes straight on, and umpire Steve Bucknor adjudged him lbw for nought. Warne finally broke the partnership by luring Collingwood down the pitch, leaving Adam Gilchrist an easy stumping, and then added the wicket of Andrew Flintoff (16) who picked out Langer at long-on with an ugly back-foot heave.
Bell was replaced by Collingwood who looked vulnerable to Clark outside off stump and almost gave a catch to Damien Martyn at short cover. It was the second injudicious stroke by an England batsman, with Andrew Strauss departing for 11 at the start of the innings when he hit a rising ball from Stuart Clark straight to substitute fielder Ryan Broad at fine leg.
His problems continued after the interval and had a lucky escape when Clark again found the edge and the ball touched just the turf about half an inch in front of Warne's fingers at first slip. It was the second time in the match that he had succumbed attempting the hook shot, a major error of judgment with his side needing to bat for the best part of two days to save the game.
Collingwood grew in confidence, however, to help an impressively solid Alastair Cook add 55 for the third wicket and even upper-cut a Lee bouncer over the keeper's head for six. After failing to take a wicket in England's first innings, Warne soon made his mark when Ian Bell mis-read the slider, a front of the hand delivery which goes straight on, and umpire Steve Bucknor adjudged him lbw for a duck.
But Warne struck again with a leg-break into the rough bowled from round the wicket which Cook could not counter and Mike Hussey took the chance at short leg. Bell was replaced by Collingwood, who was all at sea at the start of his innings as Clark found a consistent line on or just outside off stump.
Cook's dismissal for 43 brought Kevin Pietersen to the middle. Could he rein in his attacking instincts and occupy the crease? But he gradually grew in confidence and even managed to upper-cut a Brett Lee bouncer over the keeper's head for six during a stand off 55 for the third wicket with Alastair Cook.
Australia employed some unusual field placings to try and unsettle him, employing two men at short cover, but Pietersen held himself in check as Collingwood advanced towards his half century. Warne struck again with a leg-break into the rough bowled from round the wicket which Cook, on 43, could not counter and Mike Hussey took the chance at short leg.
It arrived off 86 balls with an authoritative pull for four off McGrath, who was operating at a slightly reduced pace because of a sore heel. Australia had to wait 34 overs for their next breakthrough as Collingwood and Pietersen finally gave the Barmy Army fans in the crowd something to cheer.