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| Aussies tighten grip in Brisbane | |
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| Ian Bell fought a gallant rearguard battle for England as they slumped to 118-5 at lunch on day three of the first Ashes Test against Australia. | |
| The Warwickshire batsman survived the entire morning session to reach 41 not out, with partner Geraint Jones on 19. | |
| The day's play began disastrously for England as Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were out in successive overs. | |
| Pietersen was lbw to Glenn McGrath for 16 offering no stroke, and Flintoff was caught behind off Brett Lee for a duck. | |
| McGrath and Lee bowled unchanged through the first hour of play and sent down 13 high quality overs at a combined cost of 30 runs. | |
| The cracks in the pitch helped them find extra movement and both Bell and Pietersen were beaten outside off stump on a number of occasions as they pushed forward defensively. | |
| Pietersen eventually lost patience and tried to pull a rapid delivery from Lee, but misjudged the length and sent a top edge climbing high over mid-on. | |
| Stuart Clark had plenty of time to run back for the catch but did not look confident as he glanced over his shoulder and the ball only brushed his fingertips as it came to earth. | |
| Australia's frustration soon turned to celebration as McGrath angled a ball into Pietersen's pads and umpire Billy Bowden raised the finger. | |
| Pietersen did himself no favours by shouldering arms but TV replays suggested he was unlucky with the ball apparently going on to miss off-stump. | |
| Flintoff poked uncertainly at his first ball without making contact, but there was no doubt about the edge which gave Adam Gilchrist a straightforward catch behind the stumps. | |
| Leg-spinner Shane Warne was straight into the attack following the drinks break and caused Bell problems as he ran through his variations. | |
| Bell responded with an on-drive for four before new partner Geraint Jones tucked Clark away for two runs to take the total past 100. | |
| There was a moment of hilarity for some members of the crowd as a sweep from Jones felled umpire Bowden at square leg, striking him on the hip as he tried to turn his back on the ball and knocking his walkie-talkie and sunglasses to the ground. | |
| No serious damage was done and the game continued, but Australia could not force another breakthrough and Jones achieved a mini-victory by pulling a long hop from Warne for four off the final ball of the morning. | |