England on top in rain-hit Sydney Test
By ANIMonday, January 3, 2011
SYDNEY - England were on top on a rain-affected opening day of the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney, as Australia reached 4-134 at stumps.
Australia had made a bright start to the Test after stand-in captain skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Opening batsmen Shane Watson and Phil Hughes played cautiously in trying conditions to share a 55-run union.
Hughes (31 off 93 balls) had played his most assured knock of the series, before he edged a delivery just outside off stump from Chris Tremlett to Paul Collingwood at third slip, the BBC reports.
Watson (45) then shared a 50 run partnership with debutant Usman Khawaja, the first Australian batsman to debut at number three since Justin Langer in 1993.
Watson, however, continued his trend of failing to convert a start when he nicked a Tim Bresnan delivery to Andrew Strauss in the slips cordon.
Khawaja on the other hand displayed plenty of confidence before he top-edged a sweep shot from the bowling of Graeme Swann to depart for 37.
As the 24-year-old was dismissed, rain came for the second time in the day at 4:50pm (AEDT), with no further play possible after that.
Michael Hussey (12) was the unbeaten batsman on crease, with Brad Haddin to join him to begin day two.
Bresnan was the most successful bowler for England, as he finished the day with figures of 2-47 from 16 overs. (ANI)
