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Rogers holds firm as Ali snares Smith

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AFP Cardiff
Chris Rogers joined a select group of players with a seventh successive Test fifty as Australia made inroads into England's first innings total on the second day of the Ashes opener here today.

At tea, Australia were 145 for two in reply to England's 430, a deficit of 285 runs.

Veteran opener Rogers was 74 not out and Australia captain Michael Clarke 11 not out.

Rogers missed Australia's 2-0 series win in the Caribbean with Caribbean and the 37-year-old left-hander has said the Ashes will be his final Test campaign before retirement.

Shortly after lunch, England dismissed Australia dangerman David Warner for 17 when the left-handed opener got a thick edge off James Anderson and England captain Alastair Cook held a sharp catch at first slip.
 

Cook, however, left the field minutes later when an edge from Smith dropped short and struck him a painful blow in the groin.

Smith, now ranked as the world's number one Test batman, got after Moeen Ali's off-breaks with three fours in four balls, the first a classic drive from a batsman often described as "unorthodox".

England, lacking the sheer pace of Australia's attack, found wickets hard to come by in near-ideal batting conditions at a sun-drenched Sophia Gardens.

But Ali succeeded where England's paceman had failed by dismissed the in-form Smith for 33.

The world's number one ranked Test batsman got himself in a terrible tangle to avoid being stumped as Ali responded to his charge by sending the ball legside.

Smith got a leading edge and a fit-again Cook, belying his reputation for cautious captaincy, then held the catch having stationed himself in an unusual short mid-on position.

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First Published: Jul 09 2015 | 8:57 PM IST

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