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 | | Sunday, 19 August, 2001, 18:40 GMT 19:40 UK Ashes Test set for gripping climax  Ponting's 72 was a rare delight in between the showers Fourth Test, Headingley: Australia 447 and 176-4 dec. England 309 and 4-0 (close) Click here for scorecard England will resume their quest for an unlikely fourth Test triumph on Monday after Australia set them a target of 315 on a rain-interrupted day at Headingley. Australia in 1948 are the only winners at this ground chasing a total over 250, so history would suggest the tourists face quite a battle. Michael Atherton (4) and Marcus Trescothick (0) will still be there, though, after surviving a quick late burst from Glenn McGrath. As the rain and gloom, not for the first time, moved in, skipper Adam Gilchrist had had enough and declared on 176-4 to give his bowlers a fighting chance of victory. England will go out on Monday with their sights set on victory, said number three batsman Mark Butcher. "It's very important you go out there with a positive attitude and look to try to win the game," he said. The fourth day, dominated by the over-worked ground staff and mass of umbrellas, witnessed a dazzling 72 from Ricky Ponting in a century partnership with Matthew Hayden.
Darren Gough finished with two wickets and Alan Mullally impressed after a poor start, but too often the bowling was wayward and England duly paid the price. The tourists began the day on 69-1, as Hayden and Ponting, in particular, crashed the ball to all corners of the ground, probably sensing the impending poor weather. Gough made the initial breakthrough, claiming his second wicket of the match to give England a glimmer of hope. Ponting was his victim as his dashing effort was ended, out leg before to a quicker delivery that kept low. Mullally was then finally rewarded for some rare accuracy and liveliness just before lunch, forcing Hayden (35) to edge through to Alec Stewart.
Damien Martyn was unable to match his centurion efforts in the first innings, but he will feel aggrieved at the manner of his downfall. After making just six, he was unlucky to be trapped lbw to Andy Caddick, another bowler who struggled with consistency. McGrath grabbed a seven-wicket haul in the first innings and England will hope he cannot add too much to that total or the fourth Test will quickly run away from them. History is not on England's side, but at last the Ashes series has come alive. It is the first time in this series a Test has reached the fifth day - assuming the weather behaves itself, it should be an intriguing final day's play. England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash, Usman Afzaal, Alec Stewart, Alex Tudor, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough, Alan Mullally. Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Michael Slater, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Justin Langer. Umpires: DR Shepherd & S Venkataraghavan (Ind). | |
 Familiar facesShould selectors have gambled for fourth Test?   Fourth Test v Australia Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top The Ashes stories:  Links to more The Ashes stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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