2ND TEST DAY TWO REPORT:

DAY TWO REPORT:

(KARTHIK NARAYAN)

England looked solid for a big total on the board with wickets in hand and a partnership striking panic in the mind of the Australians. Ponting’s bowlers looked jaded and nothing really clicked for them. After getting the third Englishmen (Bell, 60) at 158, they had to wait for a hiatus to strike again. 310 runs split the 3rd and 4th wickets and it only meant that the agony had been built right under their noses.

With a mini collapse coming in, the Englishmen promptly declared at 551/6, the runs coming in 168 overs and 3 Australians having given away over a hundred runs off their bowling, something that hadn’t been commonplace at all in the first test.

When the Australians started off, they didn’t have the blessings for a good end – Langer was dismissed with the score at 8.

Ponting and Hayden readied themselves for some real challenges towards the end of the second days’ play.

The scores at end of day two:

Eng 1st Inns: 551/6

Collingwood 206
Pietersen 158 (his highest score equaled thrice now)
Bell 60

Aus 1st Inns 28/1

Flintoff picking up Langer on the last ball of the 2nd over of the innings (his first over)