England drop, Australia catch

Kevin Pietersen, England8217;s first innings hero, played another fearless and intelligent innings, taking the attack to the Australian bowlers on the way to 42 not out.

He hooked Lee for a mighty six off the front foot, giving the crowd something to cheer in another dispiriting day for England supporters. Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss gave England a deceptively smooth start to their bid to become only the fourth team to score in more than 400 to win a Test, taking the total to 80 without loss before Lee struck.

Strauss, on 37, lobbed a quick delivery with a horizontal bat into the covers and the athletic Lee responded with a quick sprint and dive before gleefully clinging to the ball. Sixteen runs later Trescothick, who had survived a raucous series of lbw shouts from an increasingly exasperated Warne, edged a ball delivered from the front of the hand straight to Matthew Hayden at slip for 44.

Ian Bell, surrounded by a slip, gully, short leg and captain Ricky Ponting at silly mid-off, became Warne8217;s second lbw victim for eight.

Captain Michael Vaughan showed his increasing fallibility around the off stump when he was bowled for four by Lee, and Andy Flintoff was caught behind off Warne for three, giving test cricket8217;s leading wicket taker three for 10 from 32 deliveries.

The admirably composed Simon Katich orchestrated the first passage of play after Australia resumed at 292 for seven. Reuters

Brief Scores

190 038; 384 M Clarke 91, S Katich 67, D Martyn 65; S harmison 3/54, M Hoggard 2/56 Vs England 155 038; 156/5 M Trescothick 44, K Pietersen n.o. 42; S Warne 3/46, B Lee 2/58.

FLASHES FROM THE ASHES

I can do it alone
Simon Jones had almost every batsman dropped off him. But he showed them how to do it by cleaning up Gillespie8217;s off stump and catching Simon Katich at third man boundary.

Battle full on
After Pietersen cover drove Brett lee, the latter bowled a thigh-high full toss that hung delicately between being termed an LBW and a beamer. Pietersen did not take it lightly and exchanged words with Lee. The battle shall resume tomorrow

Warne Dar-ingly denied
Umpire Dar kept turning down LBW appeals from Warne, as the ball kept getting closer and closer to the stumps, and Trescothick8217;s intent to play at them kept growing lesser and lesser. Warne finally got Trescothick to edge to the slips.

They catch inspiration
When Pietersen was tucking into the Aussies yesterday, Martyn came up with a flying effort. Today, it was the turn of Lee. On his follow through, he sprinted to a pop-up from Strauss, and dived full length to start the great English slide

But was it clean?
As Lee slid with ball in his hand, the ball could have touched the green. The replays showed it was worth going up to the TV umpire, but Lee claimed it emphatically. So much so for the gentleman8217;s agreement on catches