Zeenews Bureau/ Pratik Dogra
London: An inspired spell of fast bowling from soon to retire Andrew Flintoff (5/92) helped England down a fighting Australia by 115 runs in the second Test of the Ashes 2009 at Lord’s and race away to a 1-0 lead.
This win, incidentally, was England’s first over their nemesis at the Lord’s since 1934.
Resuming the fifth day at 313/5, still 208 runs away from what would have been a world record-breaking victory, Brad Haddin was the first wicket to fall, failing to add to his overnight tally of 80 runs. After Flintoff broke the 185 run association between Haddin and Michael Clarke, which had raised hopes of an improbable Australian victory, Greame Swann removed Clarke with a gem of a delivery, yorking Australian vice-captain for a defiant 136.
Clarke valiant effort lasted 227 deliveries, laced with 14 sublime hits to fence.
With the biggest thorn in their flesh out of their way, Flintoff snapped Nathan Hauritz (1) and Peter Siddle (7) before Swann returned to cut-short Mitchell Johnson’s (63 runs) last ditch, albeit desperate effort to salvage the Aussie pride and seal a historic victory for England.
Other that Flintoff, Swann to was among the wickets, ending with an impressive haul of 4/87.
Post match, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting admitted that his team was outplayed over the course of 5 days. “We were outplayed right through the course of the game, England have been the better team. We’ve got to bounce back pretty quickly.”
Ponting, however, took solace from the way his bowlers fought throughout the match after being on the back foot since the opening session of the opening day.
“I’m pretty proud of the way we fought the game out. Our bowling in the second innings was as good as it’s been through the series. But after lunch on day one we were chasing our tail.”
Ponting also refused to blame umpiring errors for his team’s defeat.
“It’s all irrelevant. We’ve been beaten by over 100 runs in a Test.” He says Australia can only focus on what they can do to improve.”
At the other end of spectrum, England captain Andrew Strauss was visibly delighted, though cautious. “It’s been a really special victory. To win an Ashes Test match at Lord’s is something that plenty of guys have dreamed about over the last 50 or 60 years. We’re not going to get carried away, there’s plenty of time left in the series.”
Strauss also singled out Flintoff for special praise. “He says was “magnificent” today.”
“Our medical team will be monitoring him over the coming days but we’re still confident of having a fit squad to pick from for the third Test,” Strauss said of Kevin Pietersen.
Understandably, Flintoff was adjudged man of the match.
The third Test commences on 30th July.
