England's Andrew Flintoff appeals for a wicket on the fourth day of the fifth Test of the Ashes series at The Oval cricket ground in London yesterday. - REUTERS
LONDON (Reuters):
AUSTRALIA'S ASHES hopes were hanging in the balance after Andrew Flintoff produced a thundering performance in murky conditions to turn the fifth and final Test on its head yesterday.
The world champions, needing to win at The Oval to retain the Ashes, looked set for an imposing first-innings lead but instead lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs in 15 overs during a stop-start fourth day to crash to 367 all out.
That gave the home side an improbable six-run advantage which they extended to 40 for the loss of Andrew Strauss, dismissed by Shane Warne, before bad light cut short the day. Only 43.1 overs were possible in all.
Warne, with 35 wickets in the series, seems sure to play a key role in front of a capacity crowd of 23,000 on a final day which could produce any one of three results.
All rounder Flintoff, who had called on his team mates the previous evening to put every ounce of their energy into the final two days, took five for 78, only his second five-wicket haul in Tests.
Swinging and seaming the ball, he hurled down 14.2 overs unchanged either side of lunch yesterday.
Matthew Hoggard wrapped the Australian innings up with a burst of four wickets for four runs in 19 balls. He took four for 97 in all.
The light was as critical a factor, however, and Australia knew they had a Catch-22 decision to take before a ball had been bowled.
Poor visibility and rain had wiped out the final session on Friday and half of Saturday was also lost.
The light was no better yesterday but Australia, on top after dismissing England for 373 in their first innings, could not afford to lose any more time.
