Michael Clarke threw away the chance of a century on his first appearance at Lord’s but left Australia in total command of the first Ashes Test with a majestic batting display on Friday. The 24-year-old, who scored centuries on his home and away Test debuts, made 91 and put on 155 with Damien Martyn for the fourth wicket as the world champions closed the second day on 279-7, 314 ahead of England. The partnership in a low-scoring match, Australia made 190 in their first innings to England’s 155, transformed the contest from close-run to one-sided in just over a session. England, however, did battle back with four wickets for 24 runs near the end. Only one team has made 300 or more to win a test at Lord’s, West Indies reaching 344-1 in 1984 chasing 342 for victory. England have only scored more than 300 in the fourth innings on three occasions to win a Test. Steve Harmison was England’s best bowler with 2-35 off 18.2 overs, including the wicket of Shane Warne off the last ball of the day. Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff also took two wickets each. Kevin Pietersen, who had made 57 for England in his first Test innings during the morning, dropped Clarke off a routine chance when he had made just 21. Clarke refused to throttle back after getting into the 90s, slashing an inside edge into his stumps off Matthew Hoggard. The right-hander from New South Wales faced 106 deliveries and hit 15 fours. Next ball, Steve Harmison cut one back to get rid of Martyn for 65. The pair had come together just before tea with Australia on 100-3, 135 ahead, and proceeded to dismantle the English attack. When Clarke was dropped by Pietersen, Australia were on 139-3. There would be no second chance, only a series of rasping, boundary-bound drives either side of the wicket. Clarke’s 50 came up off 64 balls with a mid-wicket boundary off Ashley Giles’s spin and the partnership killed off the tension that had bubbled throughout the opening two sessions. England had resumed on 92-7 in the morning and Pietersen, selected ahead of Graham Thorpe who announced his Test retirement on Friday, went on the attack after losing Hoggard early. McGrath, unplayable in taking the first five England wickets to fall on Thursday, was hammered for 32 runs in five overs to finish with figures of 5-53. Pietersen flat-batted a four back past McGrath, hoisted his next ball into the middle tier of the pavilion and the next disappeared through extra cover. Brief scores Australia: 190 and 279-7 (M Clarke 91, D Martyn 65, M.Hayden 34, R.Ponting 42, Harmison 2-35, Hoggard 2-46, Flintoff 2-84) vs England: 155 (K.Pietersen 57, G.Jones 30, McGrath 5-53, Lee 3-47). FLASHES FROM THE ASHES Friends turn foeKP 600 was KP 585 today, but not before a display of flashing blade. Kevin Pietersen, in full flow, hit county-mate Shane Warne for a six after plundering two fours and a six off Glenn McGrath — but Warne got his revenge the very next ball Catches win matchesDamien Martyn’s catch to dismiss the hell-raising Pietersen could be the turning point of the match; it effectively gave Australia the first-innings lead. Pietersen, in reply, dropped Michael Clarke on 21; the Aussie went on to score 70. Play meanAs soon as Steve Harmison and Simon Jones got to the crease, Ricky Ponting took off the successful Warne and Brett Lee and McGrath bowled a barrage of bouncers that, to their credit, the last pair handled cleanly Hat-trick missedClarke has centuries on all first Tests in Australia and outside. He missed, by 9 runs, the crowning glory: a century at Lord’s on his Ashes debut. He did his job, though, leaving Australia 290 ahead when he left. Freddie 2, Gilly 0Two in a row now. At a time when Gilchrist could have typically driven the sword through, Andrew Flintoff was recalled at his first sight. And, he did not disappoint the skipper, as he rattled the off stump for round the wicket.
