Michael Slater8217;s century, such a delight

At this point, the England bowling was steady but not penetrative and their next chance came with a brilliant piece of fielding from Headley. A direct hit from the deep had Slater struggling on a second run, but following his consistent pattern in this game, third umpire Simon Taufel gave the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.All instincts told you Slater was out, but the videotape evidence was flimsy, as it often will be until the cricket administrators of the world decide to do the job properly.

Despite the controversy, Headley was not to be denied and after noticing that Mark Waugh had a rare hook at a bouncer, he dropped the next ball in short and Mark Ramprakash took a good catch high to his right at square-leg.

Peter Such raised the stakes even further when he snared a struggling Darren Lehmann and Ian Healy prodded a simple catch to bat-pad. This brought the injured Steve Waugh, with a strained hamstring to the crease to join a restrained but still resourceful Slater. Slater8217;s innings was one of power, as well as precision. He hit two sixes off Such, one an enormous lofted off-drive, the most difficult shot to play against an off-spinner when the ball is turning sharply. As the wickets began to tumble and Slater was insight of his century he commenced an all out onslaught, reaching the three figures with a powerfullystruck drive over mid-off. Eventually his magnificent innings ended, but not before he8217;d amassed a fraction over two thirds of Australia8217;s runs 8212; the second highest percentage in a completed Test innings. Slater had slayed 8217;em.

England set off after the 287 for victory as though the celebration party had been organised for later that evening. Mark Butcher attacked Glenn McGrath and when he left the fray, Stewart took up the cudgels against the leg-spin of Stuart MacGill, hitting him high and hard to the on-side to post England8217;s first half-century opening partnership of the series. However, they both got carried away with the aggression and were stumped, Butcher falling to a classic piece of Shane Warne thinking when he pushed a top spinner across the left-hander who was looking for the stock delivery.

Scoreboard

Australia 1st innings: 322

England 1st innings: 220

Australia 2nd innings; overnight 13-0:

Michael Slater c Hegg b Headley 123, Mark Taylor c Stewart b Gough 2, Justin Langerlbw b Headley 1, Mark Waugh c Ramprakash b Headley 24, Darren Lehmann c Crawley b Such 0, Ian Healy c Crawley b Such 5, Steve Waugh b Headley 8, Shane Warne c Ramprakash b Such 8, Stuart MacGill lbw b Such 6, Colin Miller not out 3, Glenn McGrath c Stewart b Such 0; Extras: 3b, 1lb 4. Total: all out in 64.5 overs, 287 minutes 184

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-25, 3-64, 4-73, 5-91, 6-110, 7-141, 8-180, 9-184, 10-184

Bowling: Headley 19-7-40-4, Gough 15-3-51-1, Such 25.5-5-81-5, Tudor 5-2-8-0

England 2nd innings: Mark Butcher st Healy b Warne 27, Alec Stewart st Healy b MacGill 42, Nasser Hussain batting 17, Mark Ramprakash batting 14; Extras: 3lb, 1w 4. Total: for two wickets in 30 overs, 125 mins 104

Fall of wickets:1-57, 2-77.

Bowling: McGrath 4-0-26-0, Miller 9-1-26-0, MacGill 8-1-27-1 1w, Warne 9-1-22-1