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Australia on top in Sydney Test Aussies gain upper hand in Sydney
(about 3 hours later)
Australia gained a strong position at tea on day two of the final Ashes Test in Sydney with world number one Ricky Ponting settling into his innings. England produced an improved bowling performance but Australia ended day two of the final Ashes Test on 188-4 in reply to the tourists' 291 all out.
Ponting was 37 not out in a score of 109-2 after England had been bowled out just before lunch for only 291. Steve Harmison took 2-34 and England had the bonus of Ricky Ponting's wicket for 45 - the Aussie captain was in fine touch before running himself out.
The tourists declined rapidly from their overnight position of 234-4, though Andrew Flintoff - ninth out for 89 - emerged with considerable credit. Earlier, England subsided quickly from an overnight 234-4 but captain Andrew Flintoff (89) emerged with credit.
Disappointingly, England's last five men only produced a combined four runs. Disappointingly, England's last five men produced only four runs.
Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark all finished with three wickets.Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark all finished with three wickets.
The second new ball was taken as soon as play began on Wednesday and McGrath and Lee looked dangerous immediately.The second new ball was taken as soon as play began on Wednesday and McGrath and Lee looked dangerous immediately.
Paul Collingwood was dropped by Justin Langer in the slips in Lee's first over, but in any case added just two to his overnight 25 before edging a McGrath lifter to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.Paul Collingwood was dropped by Justin Langer in the slips in Lee's first over, but in any case added just two to his overnight 25 before edging a McGrath lifter to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.
Chris Read never settled and soon gave Gilchrist another catch off Lee, who followed up by removing Sajid Mahmood for a golden duck.Chris Read never settled and soon gave Gilchrist another catch off Lee, who followed up by removing Sajid Mahmood for a golden duck.
Mahmood, batting at least two places too high at number eight, fended away amateurishly for Matthew Hayden to take the easiest catch imaginable at gully.Mahmood, batting at least two places too high at number eight, fended away amateurishly for Matthew Hayden to take the easiest catch imaginable at gully.
Though he struggled to put bat to ball, Steve Harmison did better than his fellow tail-enders, lasting 24 balls to allow Flintoff to go from 61 to 82. Steve Harmison celebrates after dismissing Matthew Hayden
Though he struggled to put bat to ball, Harmison did better than his fellow tail-enders, lasting 24 balls to allow Flintoff to go from 61 to 82.
The England skipper moved to within sight of his sixth Test century - and first since the summer of 2005.The England skipper moved to within sight of his sixth Test century - and first since the summer of 2005.
But wickets were falling and he had to take more and more risks, so it was no huge surprise when he nicked a big drive behind to be the ninth man out.But wickets were falling and he had to take more and more risks, so it was no huge surprise when he nicked a big drive behind to be the ninth man out.
And the final wicket of the innings was Shane Warne's 1,000th in international cricket, Monty Panesar missing an attempted sweep to be ajudged lbw.And the final wicket of the innings was Shane Warne's 1,000th in international cricket, Monty Panesar missing an attempted sweep to be ajudged lbw.
Langer survived the one over bowled by England before lunch and emerged after the interval to play a range of shots with real panache.Langer survived the one over bowled by England before lunch and emerged after the interval to play a range of shots with real panache.
But having got to 26 quickly he contrived to glove a ball from James Anderson down the leg-side, Read taking the catch.But having got to 26 quickly he contrived to glove a ball from James Anderson down the leg-side, Read taking the catch.
Ponting and Hayden were given plenty of balls to attack - which had not been the case when England had batted.Ponting and Hayden were given plenty of balls to attack - which had not been the case when England had batted.
And the tourists had to wait until the score had got to 100 before the next wicket came - Hayden lazily steering a wide ball from Harmison to Collingwood in the slips.And the tourists had to wait until the score had got to 100 before the next wicket came - Hayden lazily steering a wide ball from Harmison to Collingwood in the slips.
When Ponting began to blossom after tea, hitting two terrific pull shots off Anderson, things looked ominous for England.
But a daft decision to try to steal a single to mid-on ended Ponting's innings, Anderson hitting middle stump with his sharp throw.
Michael Clarke then edged Harmison to Read, whereupon the heavens opened with Australia 155-4.
When conditions abated, Andrew Symonds and Michael Hussey had to weather a difficult 12 overs before stumps.
England desperately wanted another wicket, but it was not to be, and the amazingly consistent Hussey (37 not out) was beginning to look threatening.
Symonds took two massive risks in the final over of the day, bowled by Panesar, but lived to fight another day on 22.