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Australia collapse but still in control

16/10/2005

The World XI finally got going today as Australia collapsed from 152-1 to 199 all out in their second innings in the Super Test in Sydney.

However, chasing 355 to win, the World XI slumped to 25-2 before bad light stopped play.

The morning had begun with Australia continuing to dominate as Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting, who averages 75 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, building a solid partnership.

Hayden passed 50 after a couple of close lbw shouts off the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan but it was England's Steve Harmison who eventually produced the breakthrough when a beautifully disguised slower ball bowled Hayden for 77.

His departure was the catalyst as Harmison bowled Michael Clarke and then Andrew Flintoff had Ponting caught behind for 54.

Simon Katich was bamboozled by Muralitharan in a brilliant over by the Sri Lankan spinner where he beat the bat twice, had an easy stumping chance missed by Mark Boucher then accounted for the left-hander caught-and-bowled.

Australia's collapse continued and Muralitharan, Flintoff and Harmison all finished with three wickets apiece.

However, the World XI batsmen struggled in the eight overs of play that were possible before the players were forced off by bad light still needing 330 to win.

World XI captain Graeme Smith was out in the first over to an inswinging yorker from Glenn McGrath before Virender Sehwag lost his wicket off the bowling of Stuart MacGill.

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