Slater makes most of close call
Match slipping out of England's grasp
Posted: Monday January 04, 1999 12:56 PM
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Slater reached his 11th test hundred --and seventh against England -- in 165 balls AP |
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Michael Slater made England suffer after receiving a dubious run out reprieve Monday by scoring a century to put Australia in a strong position in the fifth and final test Monday.
Slater thumped 123 of Australia's second innings 184, getting 87 more than replays suggested he deserved, to set England a Sydney Cricket Ground record fourth innings score of 287 to win the match.
At stumps on day three England had made a positive start with 104 runs, but lost two wickets.
Shane Warne had Mark Butcher stumped for 27 with a wrong 'un and Stuart MacGill beat an advancing Alec Stewart (42) to have him stumped as well. Nasser Hussain had 17 and Mark Ramprakash was 14 at the close.
The record winning last innings total at the SCG is 276, set 100 years ago by Australia against England, and the pitch is taking considerable turn.
"We're confident we've got the bowlers to get these eight wickets, we're in the box seat," said Slater.
England's bowlers, led by off-spinner Peter Such with 5-81, performed superbly but the team lacked a vital piece of luck as it battled to overcome a 102-run first innings deficit to level the series 2-2.
Australia was 59 for two and Slater was 35 when he drove to mid-on and came back for a second run. Dean Headley hit with a direct throw and the English fieldsmen celebrated as Slater's body language suggested he feared he was out.
Television umpire Simon Taufel was left without a clear side-on view and refused to give Slater out even though a head on picture suggested he fell short.
Such was standing over the wickets and wasn't sure if Slater had made it.
"The umpire called it how he saw it and that was the end of of it," said Such.
Slater said he had an anxious wait for the green light signally he was ruled safe.
"I think the umpire, from the camera angles he had made the best decision he could from what he saw," said Slater. "I knew it was close, all direct hits are close, but there's no doubt I got the benefit because of the camera angles."
Slater took a while to calm down and the close call made him cautious.
But with Australia falling to 110-6 he stepped on the gas, reaching his 11th test hundred, and seventh against England, in 165 balls.
Slater is naturally exuberant, but exceeded even his own usual levels of joy when he reached three figures, running towards the dressingroom with both arms aloft before making his customary kiss on the Australian badge on his batting helmet.
"I was in a bit of a zone, the eyes were spinning and it was just all happening so I wasn't thinking too much other than hitting through the line," Slater said.
England's frustrations and fading opportunities, were reflected in Slater's share of Australia's tally.
He scored 66.85 percent of the team's runs, the second best share by any batsman in the game's 1,438 test matches. Australian Charles Bannerman got 165 of Australia's 245 in the first-ever test in 1877 at 67.34 percent.
Slater aside, it was another good day from an English team that lost two of the first three tests and was saved only by the rain in the other before winning in Melbourne.
Australia resumed at 13-0 after dismissing England for 220 on Sunday in reply to its first innings 322.
Captain Mark Taylor was first out Monday for two, prodding forward and edging an away cutter from Darren Gough low to Alec Stewart at first slip.
Justin Langer made just one before he was second man down at 25, playing across the crease to a ball from Headley which pitched on leg and held its line to get him lbw.
Slater and Mark Waugh (24) added 39 before Waugh, a century scorer in the first innings went to another stunning catch behind square leg from Mark Ramprakash off Headley.
Darren Lehmann had his fourth failure since returning to the team when he became Such's first victim, pushing a hard chance to John Crawley at silly point. Ian Healy fell for five to the Such-Crawley combination while Headley bowled the best ball of the match to send back an injured Steve Waugh for eight.
Waugh, struggling with a hamstring strain but batting without the help of a runner, had his off stump rocked back by a Headley leg-cutter.
Slater gave Headley four wickets when he sliced a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg. His 123 included 11 fours and three sixes, all off Such, and featured some stunning drives.
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