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England end Lord's hoodoo

Author: Rose Young
Date: 22/07/2009

England finally laid a 75-year hoodoo to rest by clinching victory in the second Test against Australia at Lord's, taking a 1-0 Ashes series lead in the process.

Andrew Strauss' side dominated from the off at the home of cricket and deservedly ran out winners by a big 115-run margin to become sportsbook favourites for the series.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, Strauss and fellow opener Alastair Cook tucked into some dreadful bowling from the Aussie attack, which would rightly later be described as filth by Sky pundit Nasser Hussain.

England took total charge by reaching 196 without loss, before the Aussies finally woke up and started to exert some pressure.

Seven wickets fell for just over 100, but a last-wicket partnership of 47 between James Anderson and Graham Onions sent England past the 400-mark and gave them the psychological advantage again.

Strauss had led the way himself, making a superb 161 before being dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus on the morning of the second day.

Paceman Anderson then tore through the Baggy Greens top order, getting rid of Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Marcus North for a combined total of just seven runs.

Onions weighed in with three wickets of his own, as Australia crumbled to 215 all out, well short of the follow-on mark.

However, with time on his side and the weather forecast set fair, Strauss opted to bat again and his team turned the screw by piling on the runs.

Every batsmen contributed to a total of 311-6 declared, with Matt Prior's quickfire 61 from 42 balls the highlight.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz took three wickets, having recovered from a dislocated finger which curtailed his bowling in England's first innings.

That left Australia needing a world record 522 to snatch an unlikely victory and, as they always do, Ponting's men made England fight all the way for the victory.

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Andrew Flintoff, who would later be named as the man of the match, got England off to a flyer by getting rid of openers Hughes and Simon Katich and it was 78-3 when Ponting played on to Stuart Broad.

Mike Hussey and Clarke steadied the ship, before off-spinner Graeme Swann struck a decisive double blow, having Hussey caught at first slip and then clean bowling North.

However, from the depths of 128-5 Australia mounted a stirring fightback which threatened to upset the applecart.

Clarke and Brad Haddin added 185 for the sixth wicket and left England going into the final day needing another five wickets for victory.

However, fiery Flintoff excelled on the final morning, getting rid of Haddin without him adding to his overnight 80.

Swann then bowled Clarke for a superb 136 and the game was as good as won.

Flintoff completed a five-wicket haul by getting rid of Hauritz and Peter Siddle, before Swann had the honour of taking the final wicket, as Australia ended 406 all out and well short of an astonishing victory.

Ponting's men will now head to Edgbaston for the third Test hoping to improve significantly on their display at Lord's but England are now the online favourites to reclaim the Ashes.

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