Tue, Jul 26, 2005 - Page 19 News List

Australia wins its first test with 239 runs over England

AP , LONDON

Veteran bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne took 15 wickets between them to lead Australia to an emphatic 239-run win over England with more than a day to spare in the first Ashes test on Sunday.

Despite suggestions from the England camp in the leadup that they might be getting too old, the 35-year-olds took four wickets each in the second innings as the home side was bowled out for 180, giving Australia a 1-0 lead in the five-test series.

After rain washed out the first two sessions on Sunday, England resumed at 156 for five but lost 5-22 in the space of just 47 balls as McGrath and Warne ripped through the remaining batting lineup.

"Some of the balls that Glenn bowled were unplayable-like deliveries and Warnie's bowled as well in this game as I've seen him bowl maybe ever, so they are great signs for us going forward," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said. "Give me these guys any day. I'll take McGrath and Warne over anybody else in the world."

Only test debutant Kevin Pietersen added any runs next to his name, moving to an unbeaten 64 after resuming on 42. It was his second half-century of the match after a 57, making him the top scorer in each of England's innings.

Ponting believed his side could sweep the series.

"We're a chance," Ponting said. "We're a better chance than we were four or five days ago."

Australia set England a target of 420 -- the highest ever fourth-innings total to win a test match. The West Indies reached 418-7 to beat Australia in Antigua in 2002-2003. Only once has a team successfully chased more than 300 runs to win a test at Lord's. The West Indies made 344-1 to pass a target of 342 for a nine-wicket victory over England in 1984.

Australia made 190 in its first innings and 384 in the second, while England was all out for 155 in its first innings.

Man-of-the-match McGrath, who claimed his 500th test wicket on day one en route to his first-innings 5-53, claimed 4-3 in just 23 balls in the second to finish with 4-29 from 17.1 overs.

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