da brwin： The Yorkshire weather scuppered Australia’s hopes of having a day offtomorrow as rain restricted play on the fourth day to just 25 overs buttheir declaration gave England a target for victory
Kate Laven19-Aug-2001The Yorkshire weather scuppered Australia’s hopes of having a day offtomorrow as rain restricted play on the fourth day to just 25 overs buttheir declaration gave England a target for victory.After making 176 for four in their second innings, Australian captain AdamGilchrist declared when it was announced that weather permitting, another 20overs would be played at 5.50pm following a dreary afternoon watching theclouds and covers come and go.The decision gave England a win target of 315 to aim for, with the remainderof the fourth day and a full fifth day left but Mike Atherton and MarcusTrescothick batted for just 2.3 overs before umpires offered the batsmen thelight.By then they had reduced the deficit by four after Atherton had bravelyhooked Glenn McGrath in the gloom to get off the mark.Despite heavy overnight rain and misty conditions, there had earlier been aprompt start but 40 minutes later, the clouds gathered and hundreds ofumbrellas popped up around the ground to signal the first interruption ofthe day.But in that time, a substantial crowd were treated to a batting spectacularfrom Ricky Ponting who was belting the ball as if it were white.He faced 31 balls and put on a remarkable 38 runs, including a hefty sixinto the West Stand off Hampshire left-armer Alan Mullally. His 50 came upin 52 balls and all Matthew Hayden could do, having resumed on 12 toPonting’s 30, was watch in awe from the other end.With such heavy cloud cover and on a pitch that players said was beginningto misbehave, the advantage should have been with the bowlers but Australiawere after quick runs and more than ready to take risks.In ten overs, the score shot from 69 for one to 124 for one but Ponting’scavalier exhibition was disrupted by a 40-minute rain break then destroyedby Darren Gough who had him trapped leg before for 72, scoring at a run aball.His partnership with Hayden added 104 but Hayden’s luck also ran out threeovers later when he edged a ball from Mullally to the wicket-keeper after hehad made 35.The afternoon session saw more rain and less play with three hours and 20minutes lost to the weather but Andrew Caddick used the time available togreat effect, having dangerman Damien Martyn back in the pavilion for six before the heavens opened.It was Caddick’s first ball of the spell but the Australian batsman, notused to looseners, was deceived and trapped. In the distance, there wereflashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder and very soon, the storm haddescended on Leeds, putting a stop to proceedings.Bad light turned quickly into heavy rain and play was eventually called off6.35pm.