Australia in charge despite England fightback

London, July 21: Mark Butcher kept Australia at bay with 73 not out from 139 balls including ten fours as England ended the third day of the second Test here at Lord's on Saturday on 163 for four.

Australia were still 51 runs ahead but at least England had salvaged some pride after complete collapse threatened to follow a shoddy fielding display.

Butcher's brother-in-law Alec Stewart was 13 not out.

Despite England's recovery Australia only need four more wickets Sunday and England could suffer their second successive innings defeat.

``I'd still rather be in our position,'' said Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist who made 90.

``We've done enough to be in a strong position even though England batted well today.

``Mark Butcher applied himself well. We certainly never thought we'll come over and roll through them every single time.

``I thought our guys bowled well but they were up to the task. But it was a very handy wicket getting (Mark) Ramprakash tonight.''

Together with his Surrey colleague Butcher put on 96 in an attritional fourth wicket stand lasting 29.3 overs.

There were six-and-a-half overs remaining when Ramprakash was caught on the crease, lbw to Jason Gillespie for 40 off 91 balls including three fours.

Gilchrist said the fast bowler was the pick of the Australia attack.

``Gillespie's looked threatening every time he gets the ball in his hand,'' said the Australia wicket-keeper.

``He wobbles it around, he hits the seam and he keeps the batsmen playing.''

Ramprakash insisted that England were still in the match. ``We've seen Australia lose games chasing 180 at Melbourne and 120 at The Oval in 1997

``It will be interesting to see how pitch goes tomorrow (Sunday), whether that indifferent bounce will come along.

``Certainly anything over 150 is something we'd like to see.''

Left-hander Butcher, 21 not out at tea, showed good patience against Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne and his fifty came off 96 balls. He reached it in fortunate fashion a flashing cut off fast bowler Glenn McGrath flying over the slip cordon for four.

But he played some authentic strokes including one sweetly timed cover driven four against McGrath.

Earlier Ramprakash off-drove Warne for four to bring England's hundred as the Surrey pair's fifty partnership came up in 99 balls.

At tea England were 50 for three, 164 behind after Australia had made 401. Butcher was 21 not out.

To the last ball before tea, Butcher lost Surrey team-mate Graham Thorpe, lbw to Brett Lee for two.

England almost saw captain Michael Atherton, deputising for the injured Nasser Hussain, out for a duck.

With England four for nought in the fifth over Atherton steered nemesis McGrath to Matthew Hayden in the gully. But Australia's fielding for once let them down and the chance was dropped.

It hardly dented their morale as seven balls later England lost Atherton's fellow opener Marcus Trescothick for three.

Gillespie bowled a superb delivery that pitched on the left-hander's off stump and moved away. Wicket-keeper Gilchrist claimed the simple catch and England were eight for one in the sixth over.

Then Warne got in on the act. Atherton tried to sweep a leg break pitched outside leg stump. But he failed to make contact and the England skipper was bowled for 20. At that stage, England were 47 for two.

After dropping Gilchrist four times in the morning session, England eventually deprived the free-scoring left-hander of a second successive Test century to follow his 152 at Edgbaston.

Gilchrist, 87 not out at the break, added just three more runs after lunch before he mishooked Darren Gough to give wicket-keeper Stewart his fifth catch of the innings.

Gilchrist's 90 came from 121 balls including 12 fours and he shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 65 with Lee in 83 balls.

Then 387 for eight became 401 for nine when Gillespie was bowled by Darren Gough for nine. Lee was last out, bowled by Andrew Caddick for a dashing 20. McGrath was nought not out and Australia led by 214 runs.

In Saturday's pre-lunch session, they scored 123 runs in 28 overs to be 378 for seven, a lead of 191.

Somerset fast bowler Caddick finished with five for 101, the tenth time he had taken five wickets in a Test innings. But all the bowlers figures would have been better had not England dropped six catches in the innings.

England have never won an Ashes series from two-nil down so will hope for a draw at the very least.

Australia's 401 was the same score as their first innings total at Headingley in 1981 and an England victory now would be almost as outlandish as it was then.