Ashes Series: Australia sets England 391 to win Perth Test

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Ashes Series: Australia sets England 391 to win Perth Test

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18 December,2010 08:21 pm

Australia has set a target of 391 for England to seal Ashes Series. England bowled Australia out for 309 today, Chris Tremlett taking five for 87 and James Anderson claiming his 200th Test wicket.Mike Hussey produced a sparkling century before Australia's pace bowlers destroyed England's top order to push the hosts to the brink of a series-levelling victory on day three of third Ashes test in Perth. The 35-year-old Hussey's composed 116, as his batting partners fell like dominoes, propelled Australia's second innings to 309 and set England a mammoth 391-run chase with two days to play. England leads the five-test series 1-0 and had hoped to seal the Ashes with a win in Perth but began their chase disastrously by losing five wickets after tea to limp to 81-5. Paul Collingwood was dismissed for 11 with the last ball before stumps by Ryan Harris, the Englishman nicking an edge to all-rounder Steve Smith, who took a superb low catch in the slips. Night-watchman James Anderson (0) remained unbeaten at stumps as the last-ball wicket brought raucous cheers from home supporters on a day of brilliant sunshine at the WACA ground. While Johnson's six-wickets helped Australia skittle England for 187 to wrest back the initiative on Friday, Hussey's brilliant form as a habitual rescuer of Australia's brittle batting line-up may prove equally telling. After pulling England quick Tremlett for four to bring up his ton, the 35-year-old celebrated wildly, bolting halfway to the Lillee Marsh stand with arms aloft in celebration. He earlier resumed on 24 with opener Watson on 61 after guiding Australia to 119-3 at stumps on day two and the pair compiled an unbeaten 113-run stand before Tremlett had Watson trapped lbw five runs shy of his third test century. Tremlett broke through again after lunch by dismissing Smith (36) early, the all-rounder gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, then he trapped Haddin in his crease and had him play onto his stumps for seven. Quick bowler Johnson, who was roundly booed by English fans as he strolled out to the crease at a packed WACA ground, squandered his wicket for one when he drove an innocuous Collingwood ball straight to Ian Bell in close at short cover. Harris, who managed a pair of ducks in the second test at Adelaide, continued the rot by hooking a short delivery from Steve Finn high in the air where Bell took an easy catch to have the quick dismissed for one.