Harmy Piles On Misery For Hughes

Cricket365
July 4, 2009

Steve Harmison gave another reminder of his ability to watching England national selector Geoff Miller as he piled on more misery for Phillip Hughes.

Steve Harmison gave another reminder of his ability to watching England national selector Geoff Miller as he piled on more misery for Australian opener Phillip Hughes ahead of the opening Ashes Test.

Harmison did all he could to convince Miller he should be involved at Cardiff next Wednesday when in England Lions action against a nervy-looking Hughes at New Road.

The Durham paceman had accounted for the 20-year-old with a short pitched delivery in the first innings after making only seven.

And it was the same scenario today with Hughes on eight when he gloved a rising ball from Harmison, bowling around the wicket, to Eoin Morgan at second slip.

It was the major focal point of the third day's play despite all-rounder Marcus North playing himself into form for the tourists with 106 not out.

Harmison bowled with plenty of pace and fire on a slow, lifeless wicket which he had strongly criticised after the first day's play, but 20-year-old Hughes has much to work on during the next five days despite averaging 60 in Test cricket.

Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting (15) also looked ill at ease before edging Harmison to Adil Rashid at gulley after not getting to the pitch of the ball – his third failure in his last four innings.

But North, promoted two places to number four in the over, at least provided some cheer for his team-mates following scores of 1, 11 and 1 although he was fortunate to survive a run out scare on 14 when well short of his crease.

He added 49 in 18 overs with Simon Katich (37) who fell to a superb reflex catch at short leg by Lions century-maker Stephen Moore off Rashid.

North, who made a century on his Test debut against South Africa in January, went to his half century off 102 balls. But he needed only another 66 deliveries to complete his hundred which contained 13 fours.

He figured a fourth wicket stand of 170 in 39 overs with Michael Clarke who made 80 off 129 balls before lofting occasional spinner Vikram Solanki to Graham Onions at long on.

North finished unbeaten on 106 out of 276 for four – an overall lead of 282.

Australia gained a narrow first innings lead of six runs after dismissing the Lions for 352. Paceman Brett Lee claimed his sixth victim when he bowled Sajid Mahmood for a duck.

He had the opportunity to surpass his career best seven for 114 for New South Wales against South Australia in 2002 only for wicket-keeper Brad Haddin to spill a chance offered by Harmison.

Mitchell Johnson picked up his first wicket of the innings when he bowled Tim Bresnan (five) via the inside edge.

Lee accounted for Mahmood (nought) with the ball striking him on the shoulder and then bouncing down on to the stumps and dislodging the bails.

Rashid reached his half century off 89 balls with a slash backward of point off Lee which brought him his seventh boundary.

Stuart Clark mopped up the innings after replacing Johnson. His third delivery brought about the end of Rashid (66) who perished to a fine catch by Mike Hussey away to his left at gulley.

Then Onions (eight) drove Clark straight to Hughes at extra cover.