England on the ropes

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 40

England on the ropes

NZPA-AAP London English cricket, was on its knees at Lord’s yesterday after Australia <■ took an iron, grip on. the 55th Ashes series. , t A picturesque but ruthless 152 riot out by Steve Waugh, augmented by splendid fighting innings from the tailenders, hoisted Australia’s first innings to the unanticipated heights of 528. Then England lost three wickets in less than an hour and forfeited all realistic hope of preventing Australia from taking

a 2-0 lead into the third test at Edgbaston. ' After less than a third of the six-test series, Allan Border is odds-on to become the.first Australian , captain since /Bill Wdod| full in i 934 to regain the Ashes on English soil. J It seemed almost as if, his opposite number was ready to concede as much. In an extraordinary exchange with journalists after the end of play, the England captain, David Gower, could only offer phrases like “it’s in the lap -pf the gods” and

.“we'll keep our fingers crossed” by way of hope for tile home supporters. ' Bonier knew how he felt, bait- he could hardly '■ keep ;the smile .off . his I' face 0 he contemplated I the prospect of the next ) two days. After years of frustration hot unlike Gower’s current predicament, Border has finally found the catalyst for Australian success. Short scoreboard: England 286 and 58 for three and Australia 528 ,(5. Waugh 152 n. 0., David Boon 94, Geoff Lawson 74, John Emburey 4/ 88). f