Honours even on day one

Ashes has begun.Such was the intensity between the both teams that both were trying to roll upon each other.England always had managed a good run rate for which they eventually managed a healthy 336/7.Looking in Australia's point of view,they just managed to put the breaks when required but in doing so, they failed to keep a lid on the runs.





Strauss won the toss and and batted on a good Cardiff pitch.England lost Cook early to Ben Hilfenhaus.Bopara and Strauss entertained a lively crowd for a while.The joy was short lived by Mitchell Johnson when Bopara was bamboozled by a slower one.Strauss too departed after a 23 run partnership with Pieterson to Johnson again.England were 97/3 at lunch with Australia looking good.Collingwood and Pieterson revived the English in the second session putting in a 100+ partnership.Nathan Hauritz and a few part time spinners couldn't pick up even a single wicket in the session.So,Round 2 belonged entirely to the English team.



Australia and England fought it neck to neck in the final session.Both teams weren't ready to give an inch.Collingwood completed a wonderful fifty and got out to the impressive Ben Hilfenhaus.Pieterson too followed suite for an enterprising 69 with Nathan Hauritz getting the prize wicket.Then started a counter attack by Flintoff and Prior who matched each other shot to shot,ball to ball leaving Australia bewildered.They managed 86 runs in 15 odd overs taking England past the 300 mark.Peter Siddle who was wicket less till then pulled Australia back into this one with a fiery spell capturing Prior and Flintoff.Broad and Anderson then negotiated a few balls to ensuring no further damage.It was a great start for what is going to be an intensely fought series.

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