England face uphill battle

Atherton dropped Gilchrist at first slip

Second Test, Lord's, day three:
England 187 and 163-4
Australia 401

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England were staring defeat in the face after the third day of the second Test at Lord's.

Australia took their overnight score of 255 for five to 401 aided by a rapid 90 from Adam Gilchrist, but England only had themselves to blame for conceding a 214-run first innings deficit.

They dropped the wicketkeeper four times and he made them pay.

England's batsmen, led by Mark Butcher's unbeaten 73, rallied after the early loss of Marcus Trescothick but they lost Mark Ramprakash shortly before the close.

Jason Gillespie trapped Ramprakash lbw for 40 and England were 163 for four, still 51 runs short of making Australia bat again.

Butcher's unbeaten 73 gave England some hope

Butcher's stubborn innings led England's rally to register his fifth Test fifty as the hosts battled back from a double blow just before tea.

Australia claimed two wickets in the minutes before the interval to rock England's chances of saving the match.

Shane Warne claimed the prized wicket of Mike Atherton as England and in the following over Brett Lee removed Graham Thorpe to leave England rocking on 50 for three.

Warne bowled Atherton around his legs for 20 as the hosts slumped as they sought to recover from a 214-run first innings deficit.

Then Thorpe was given a severe working over by Lee with a couple of short balls thudding into the left-hander before he was claimed lbw.

Warne bowled Atherton around his legs

England's innings started poorly when Jason Gillespie snared Marcus Trescothick for three.

The paceman caught the edge of the left-hander's bat who guided the ball into Adam Gilchrist's gloves behind the wicket.

Australia were dismissed for 401 in reply to England's 187.

Andy Caddick took five wickets to wrap up Australia's innings 30 minutes after lunch.

Australia's innings was boosted by Gilchrist who rode his luck to score a flashing 90 after being dropped four times.

Gilchrist finally went when he attempted to hook a short ball from Darren Gough, but only succeeded in gloving the ball through to Alec Stewart.

It brought an end to Gilchrist's flashing innings 10 runs short of his century which saw him survive four chances in the morning session.

Gough then ended Jason Gillespie's innings with a fast yorker which shattered the paceman's stumps.

Martyn batted beautifully for 52

The innings closed when Caddick returned to the attack to end Lee's innings on 20 to give him figures of five for 101.

The hosts started the day needing early wickets to restrict Australia's lead, and Caddick gave them the start they wanted with the second new ball.

He removed Martyn for an attractive 52 with a short ball that the Western Australian edged through to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart.

He then claimed Shane Warne, with the spinner edging him to Stewart to reduce the visitors to 322 for seven.

But Lee and Gilchrist added 65 to take Australia's lead past the 200-run mark.