Cricket: England on brink of victory

BIRMINGHAM - Andrew Flintoff outshone Shane Warne to take England to the brink of a series-levelling victory in the second test over Australia in an enthralling day at Edgbaston.

The world champions, set 282 to win after Warne's six wickets had helped restrict the English second innings to 182, battled to stay in the game until a late clatter of wickets left the home side firmly in control after day three. 

By the close Ricky Ponting's side, 1-0 up in the five-match series, had struggled to 175 for eight on an increasingly two-paced and uneven Edgbaston pitch.  

England claimed the extra half-hour but could not apply the finishing touches, although Steve Harmison yorked Michael Clarke, the last specialist batsman, with the very last ball.  

Warne, still defiant after sweeping two sixes, was 20 not out. Flintoff, after salvaging England's innings earlier in the day, took three for 34.  

A boisterous, Barmy Army dominated sell-out crowd was left dazed yet jubilant as the initiative swung wildly from one team to the other throughout the day.  

Warne (6-46) seemed to have set Australia on course for an unlikely victory -- they had been 99 runs behind after the first innings -- as he completed a 10-wicket match haul, his ninth in 125 tests, to leave him on 599 for his career.  

But all rounder Flintoff restored England's hopes with a vital 73 runs -- no other home batsman got past 21 -- then produced a lion-hearted performance which included an over to remember.  

England, resuming on 25 for one and with an overall lead of 124, began the morning on top. By lunch they were 95 for six and the game had flipped on its head.  

Strike bowler Brett Lee, who ended with four for 82, made the early inroads with a vitriolic burst of three wickets for four runs in 11 deliveries.  

England had been more concerned about Warne -- he had dismissed Andrew Strauss in Friday's final over with a leg break which defied the laws of geometry -- but Lee induced a lazy waft from a flat-footed Marcus Trescothick who snicked behind.  

Michael Vaughan survived for two minutes and two balls before he failed to get forward and lost his off stump while nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard guided a catch to gully to make it 31 for four after just half an hour played.  

A 41-run stand followed but Warne snapped up Kevin Pietersen (20) and Ian Bell (21) within six balls.  

Pietersen was perhaps unlucky, given out off a delivery which appeared to ricochet off his pad, body and elbow, but Gilchrist's reactions were breathtaking, the wicketkeeper scooping up the ball an inch off the ground to complete the catch.  

Enter Flintoff. He began slowly, his hard-wristed technique holding up against Warne. He and Giles added 30 for the eighth wicket but when Warne got rid of his partner and Harmison with consecutive deliveries boldness replaced caution.  

Seamer Michael Kasprowicz was hoisted for two sixes over mid-wicket -- 20 off the over. Lee returned and was carted onto the pavilion roof, cut next ball for another boundary, with another straight six to follow -- 18 off the over.  

Flintoff and Simon Jones put on a run-a-ball 51 before the all rounder, having hit four sixes to go with the five he hit in the first innings, slogged once too often at Warne. His runs, though, had averted a total collapse.  

Australia began confidently before Flintoff's wonder over.  

Brought on with 47 on the board, he induced Justin Langer (28) to edge into his stumps, then softened Ricky Ponting up with a series of booming inswingers and lbw shouts before shaping the ball away. 

Ponting, so impressive in the first innings, went for a five-ball duck.  

From 48 for two it was 82 for three as Trescothick dived to his right at slip to remove Matthew Hayden (31) off Jones. 

Australia needed an anchor but Damien Martyn failed to get a hold, chipping a Hoggard half-volley to Bell at midwicket. 

Giles then set up the left-handed Simon Katich with a big off-break before an arm ball took the edge and was caught at slip by a juggling Trescothick. 

Gilchrist (1), so often a man of miracles, chipped a Giles ball tamely to mid-on, giving the left-arm spinner two for two in six balls, before Flintoff demanded one more go and trapped Gillespie lbw for a second-ball duck.  

- REUTERS