Monday 29th November, 2010 15 BY CIARAN BAYNES BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - SCOREBOARD Centuries from Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook set up a domi- England 1st innings: 260 Broad, G. Swann, J. Anderson, S. nating fourth day for England as Australia 1st innings: 481 Finn. the tourists reached 309-1 at England 2nd innings Bowling: Hilfenhaus 26-4-75-0 stumps Sunday and closer to a (Overnight: 19 without loss) (1w), Siddle 19-3-67-0 (2w), North likely draw with Australia in the first Ashes Test. A. Strauss st Haddin b North 110 12-2-22-1, Johnson 18-4-65-0, England came into the day A. Cook not out 132 Doherty 18-3-52-0, Watson 8-2-25- 202 runs behind Australia, but J. Trott not out 54 0 (1w). enters the final day leading by 88 Extras: (1b, 2lb, 6nb, 4w) 13 Toss: England with Cook unbeaten on 132 and TOTAL: (for one wicket) 309 Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pak), Billy Jonathan Trott on 54. Overs: 101 Doctrove (WI) Strauss and Cook shared a 188-run opening stand to produce Still to bat: K. Pietersen, P. TV Umpire: Tony Hill (NZ) England's best ever partnership Collingwood, I. Bell, M. Prior, S. Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ) at the Gabba ground before the England captain was dismissed opportunities for the Australians, England scored 260 in the for 110, stumped by Brad Haddin Trott gave a slight chance to first innings before Australia off Marcus North. Michael Clarke at point off the notched 481 in reply with cen- Cook needs seven more runs bowling of Peter Siddle. turies from to record England's best score at Australia's hero in England's Hussey and the Gabba and surpass Ian first innings, Siddle was also Haddin. Botham's innings in 1986-87. unlucky in the morning session The opening partnership sur- as Cook edged just wide of third passed the stand of 160 by slip and later Strauss Graeme Hick and Graham missed his leg stump Thorpe in 1994. from an inside Strauss was dominant in the edge. morning session, being particu- Britain's Carl "The Cobra" Froch reacts with his wife Strauss was larly severe on Shane Watson given a reprieve Rachael Coardingly after beating Germany's "King" who he hit for four boundaries in before lunch while Arthur Abraham in their WBC super middleweight title Juan Manuel Marquez, of Mexico, five overs. He brought up his first on 69 when he celebrates his victory over century in Australia with a fight of the Super Six World Boxing Classic on hit a Doherty Michael Katsidis, of Australia, in a superb late cut off Xavier Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, in Helsinki, Finland. ball to Doherty. (AP Photo/Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari) WBA/WBO championship boxing Mitchell Strauss then seemed to lose match Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, in Johnson at his rhythm, scoring just 10 from Las Vegas. mid-on, his next 40 deliveries, before a but the (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) rash cross-batted shot caused his chance demise. Froch regains was Cook looked less assured, but dropped. ground his way to his second century against Marquez Australia. The Ashes WBC title successfully BY MARIUS TURULA In the sixth round, HELSINKI (AP) - Carl two blows from Froch Froch of Britain domi- seemed to connect forc- nated Germany's Arthur ing Abraham down but defends title Strauss, Cook share 188 Abraham from the start U.S. referee Frank Garza Saturday to earn a unan- intercepted and ruled it imous decision after 12 as a slip. LAS VEGAS (AP) - Juan Manuel rounds to take back the Froch hammered Marquez of Mexico successfully vacant WBC super mid- Abraham on the ropes in defended his WBA and WBO dleweight title. the eighth. The German lightweight titles, stopping The 33-year-old had almost come to a Australia's Michael Katsidis at as England reach 309-1 Froch improved his standstill by the 11th, but 2:14 of the ninth round Saturday England's Andrew record to 27-1 with 20 made a desperate attack at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Although KOs. Armenian-born for a knockout in the last England toiled in the Strauss, left, is congratu- In the ninth round, Marquez field for much of the lated by his teammate Abraham lost for the sec- round. Froch was (52-5-1, 38 KOs) landed 36 punches previous day against Alastair Cook on ond consecutive time and unfazed and took the title to nine for Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs). centurions Mike reaching 100 runs is now 31-2 with 25 KOs. home in the Hartwall Referee Kenny Bayless halted the Hussey and Brad against Australia Two judges gave Arena in Helsinki. bout after Katsidis was hurt by Haddin, their bowlers scores of 120-108, the Abraham appeared produced a much bet- during the fourth several combinations. ter comeback at the day of their first third 120-109. subdued afterward. "We worked really hard for end of the day, taking Ashes Test in The two men met in "I wanted to hit him, this fight, and I could tell my five wickets for 31 Brisbane, the ring for the first time I tried but I could not do body shots were wearing him runs. In contrast, Australia, in stage three of the it," he said. "Nothing Australia's bowling down," Marquez said. "This was Sunday, Super Six World Boxing more to say." attack failed to make definitely the fight of the year." an impact Sunday Nov. 28, Classic. The tournament in After eight rounds, the three and, despite overcast 2010. (AP Former super mid- the 168-pound (76.2-kilo- judges had the 37-year-old conditions, there was Photo/Tertius dleweight title holder gram) class features five Marquez leading, 78-74, 76-75, 77- no discernible swing. Pickard) Froch bounced back from boxers, with Andre Ward 74. In a day of few losing his last fight to of the United States lead- Katsidis knocked down Denmark's Mikkel ing with six points. Marquez with a left hook in the Kessler in April. The 6- Froch has four points, third, but Marquez rallied to take foot-1 (1.86-metre) Froch while Abraham and Glen the lead before finishing off the used his superior reach, Johnson of the United Australian in the ninth. height and technical States each have three. "I was surprised by his left Watson defends Johnson's lack of wickets prowess to hold off U.S fighter Allan Green hand," Marquez said. "I didn't Abraham and landed sev- has no points. protect myself and I got caught. I eral good series of Johnson was added knew how to manage the fight BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - had the worst economy rate in where we want to." punches. to the Super Six after with my combinations and condi- Opener Shane Watson has both innings. With Australia still just 88 "This ranks up there Kessler withdrew in tioning. That's why I got up so defended paceman Mitchell But Watson, who also serves runs behind, Watson is hoping with my best perform- April due to an eye quickly after I got knocked Johnson after a frustrating day as a part-time paceman for his side can regroup for a strong ances," Froch said the injury. He will meet down." for the Australian bowlers which Australia, said all of the team's first session on the final day and bout. "I had a long train- Froch in the semi-final, Katsidis, who was taken to a saw just one wicket fall at the bowlers should share the blame set up a possible victory. ing camp with a variety with Abraham taking on hospital after the fight, went expense of 290 runs. for the lack of wickets in "We are still in the game, but of sparring and we tried Ward. ahead with this bout despite the Johnson boasted ahead of England's second innings. we need to turn it around very to emulate the style of "I have to take one death of his brother, jockey the Ashes that he would target "I dont think you can single quickly," Watson said. "We still Abraham a bit. Now we fight at a time, then it's Stathi Katsidis, in October. Andrew Strauss but rarely out Mitch," Watson said. "All the need nine wickets, which seems were able to execute the the final. Johnson seems "I always knew it was in the threatened him Sunday while the bowlers didn't bowl particularly a long way away after today. game plan." to be a puncher," Froch cards to knock him down," England captain made 110 runs well. "We've seen the game ebb After a cautious said. "I came here trying Katsidis said. "But this is boxing, as the tourists reached 309-1 at "I was bowling one loose ball and flow through the four days so start, Abraham picked to preserve myself physi- and he has a lot of experience. He stumps on the fourth day. an over and that's my job to tie far. I think it's going to be the up in the second round cally. I'm 33 and have two was stronger than me, and it After a sub-par 2009 Ashes, up one end and let the others same way throughout the series. but managed only to or three years left at this ended up getting stopped. I'm not Johnson is still to register his attack," he said. "It comes down Lets hope it goes our way tomor- attack in spurts.