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Ian Chappell
MELBOURNE, DEC 27: Alec Stewart elevated himself in the batting order, then scored a magnificent century to lift his team into a position from where they could be competitive if they bowl well enough. History says runs are hard to come by in the fourth innings at the MCG and England's first task is to make sure Australia aren't able to build up a substantial lead.
Things started badly for England when Glenn McGrath made a double breakthrough on a dull grey morning. The first one to go was Mike Atherton, perhaps a little unlucky to be adjudged caught behind, after he clipped his pad playing at a McGrath outswinger. Mark Butcher demoted to number three,had a short stay as McGrath found the edge of his dangling bat and provided a sharp chance at bat-pad. At four for two England appeared headed for another fine mess.
Nevertheless, Stewart was unfazed and continued to play his shots in a resolute counter-attack. Stewart's strokeplay was exhilarating and he took a heavy toll of debutant Matthew Nicholson'sfull-pitched deliveries. Nasser Hussain became wicket-keeper Ian Healy 350th Test match catch off Nicholson.
Even the dismissal of Hussain did nothing to slow Stewart's progress as he played shots to all part of the field in hitting sixteen fours in his century, his first Test ton against the Australians.
Just when Stewart was set to reverse that trend he missed a full toss from Stuart MacGill as he went for a sweep and was bowled around his legs..
SCOREBOARD
England (1st innings): Mike Atherton c Healy b Mcgrath 0, Alec Stewart b MacGill 107, Mark Butcher c Ponting b McGrath 0, Nasser Hussain c Healy b Nicholson 19, Mark Ramprakash c McGrath b S Waugh 63, Graeme Hick c Fleming b MacGill 39, Warren Hegg c Healy b S Waugh 3, Dean Headley c Taylor b McGrath 14, Darren Gough b MacGill 11, Angus Fraser not out 0, Alan Mullally lbw MacGill 0; Extras (7lb, 1w, 6nb): 14. Total (all out in 76 overs): 270.
Fall Of Wickets: 1-0, 2-4, 3-81, 4-200, 5-202, 6-206, 7-244, 8-266,9-270.
Bowling: McGrath 22-5-64-3, Fleming 19-3-71-0, Nicholson 10-0-59-1, MacGill 19-2-61-4.
Australia (1st innings): Mark Taylor c Hick b Gough 7, Michael Slater lbw b Gough 1, Justin Langer not out 26, Mark Waugh not out 12; Extras (4b 5lb 4nb): 13. Total (for two wickets): 59.
Fall Of Wickets: 1-13, 2-26.
Bowling: Gough 7-5-15-2, Headley 7-1-18-0, Mullally 3-1-12-0, Ramprakash 1-0-5-0.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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