England 205 runs behind Australia’s 385 on third day

PERTH: A contentious DRS call and the dismissals of Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen threatened to derail the England innings Saturday before a vital rearguard stand prevented another capitulation to the Australian attack on a stifling day in the Ashes.

Ian Bell (9) and Ben Stokes (14) survived the last hour on day two to lift the total to 180-4 after England lost skipper Cook (72) and Pietersen (19) quickly to slide from 136-2 to 146-4, and the Australian pacemen sensed another a volley of wickets after some sustained, disciplined bowling in the third Test.

England started positively Saturday by taking four wickets for 59 to restrict Australia´s first innings to 385. After eight wickets fell for 239 on a day when temperatures topped 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the series is delicately poised with three days remaining.

Australia are aiming to reclaim the Ashes with a third straight victory, and England need at least a draw to prolong its defense.

England had only reached 180 runs in one innings before Perth — when it was bowled out for 312 after being set 531 to win the second Test in Adelaide.

If ever Bell and the England lower order need big contributions, it´s Sunday. Opener Michael Carberry (43), who combined for 85 runs with Cook in the best opening stand of the series, thinks England can still save the match and the series.

Cook appeared set for a century in his 100th Test but the nagging line and length of the pacemen prompted him to lash out at the introduction of spin and he cut Nathan Lyon to David Warner at point.

Pietersen lost patience after an uncharacteristically cautious start, taking 15 balls to get off the mark and 44 before hitting his first boundary.

After becoming just the fifth England batsman to pass 8,000 career Test runs, he impulsively flat-batted a short ball from Peter Siddle to mid-on and Mitchell Johnson took a stunning, leaping catch.

England started with intent, with the openers scoring boundaries and getting some early reprieves before Ryan Harris bowled Carberry.
England added five to the total before Joe Root (4) was given out caught behind off Shane Watson.

Root challenged the call but the TV umpire´s review — based on a slight movement on the snicko technology — didn´t show conclusive evidence to overturn umpire Marais Erasmus´ original decision and the dismissal stood, provoking raucous boos from the England supporters.

It was just one more controversial outcome from a system that was widely criticized during the last Ashes series in England.

Stuart Broad had struck earlier to remove Johnson (39) caught behind without any addition to the overnight of 326-6. Anderson dismissed Smith and Harris (12) quickly before the last-wicket pair of Siddle (21) and Lyon (17 not out) added 31 for Australia.

Cracks started opening up in the baking conditions at Perth, and the ball started to move Australia has batted first and scored big wins in the first two Tests leading up to this match at the WACA, where England hasn´t won since 1978. (AP)