- REUTERS
Australia's Shane Warne avoids a bouncer from England's Andrew Flintoff during the third day of the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford yesterday. Warne helped save the follow-on.
MANCHESTER, England (AP):
SHANE WARNE rode his luck yesterday as he ensured Australia avoided the follow-on and restored some confidence during a rain-interrupted third day of the third Test against England.
Warne had three reprieves as he moved from his overnight 45 to an unbeaten 78 at stumps, guiding Australia from a precarious 214 for seven to 264 for seven in two brief sessions containing a total of 14 overs.
The Australians are still 180 behind England's first innings of 444, with Warne and Jason Gillespie (seven) sharing an unbroken 63-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Everything seemed to work in Australia's favour yesterday, with the rain halting England's momentum, injured batsman Michael Clarke resting his back and England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones making two crucial blunders: a missed stumping when Warne was 55 and a dropped catch when Warne was on 68.
Avoiding the follow-on was crucial for Australia.
The Australians haven't been forced to follow-on in the Ashes since November 1986, when England won by seven wickets at Brisbane en route to a 2-1 series win _- their last against the Aussies.
"We thought we'd built up some good momentum last night and wanted to continue that to sit around all day was very frustrating," said England coach Duncan Fletcher. "And Geraint Jones unfortunately dropped those (chances) - he'll be very disappointed."
The first two sessions were washed yesterday. In the 32 minutes between the first two stoppages, Australia scored 31 runs - including 12 from Warne in one over against Ashley Giles - to reach 245 for seven, thus ensuring England had to bat again.
Warne raised his 11th Test 50 with a lofted single to long-on, then had two escapes in one over from Giles.
He was on 51 when he gave Giles a tough chance for a return catch, smashing a drive back at the bowler's end. The ball ricocheted off the stumps and rocketed down to the rope for four.
MISSED REGULATION STUMPING CHANCE
Next ball, 'keeper Jones missed a regulation stumping chance when Warne stepped down the pitch and was beaten by Giles' drift.
In six overs after the last delay, Warne had another life in the penultimate over when he edged Andrew Flintoff to Geraint Jones, who fumbled a routine catch.
Warne, who scored 42 in the second innings at Edgbaston last week as the Australians went within three runs of an improbable win in the second Test, has hit a six and 10 boundaries in his innings-saving 104-ball knock at Old Trafford.
Giles and Simon Jones picked up three wickets apiece and Flintoff took one on Friday but none could get a breakthrough on day three. Giles finished with 3-93 in 28 overs, with Flintoff returning 1-54 and Simon Jones 3-43.
Australia had four runs added to their total before a ball was bowled on the third day.
Umpire Steve Bucknor didn't signal a boundary after a no-ball from Simon Jones in the 23rd over on Friday skidded down to the rope, an error that wasn't picked up until yesterday.
So Australia's 210 for seven overnight was corrected to 214 for seven.
The five-match series is locked at 1-1. Australia won the first Test at Lord's by 239 runs and England responded with a two-run win at Edgbaston last week, the narrowest winning margin ever in an Ashes Test.
Clarke has only fielded for two overs in the match and was obviously restricted by back pain in the 18 minutes he batted on Friday. Australian team physiotherapist said while the spinal disc irritation will limit Clarke's future bowling, the 24-year-old player will be able to bat again in this match.
