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Hosts take charge after Australia collapse

Australia collapsed with the bat to leave England in control of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

At drinks in the second session of Saturday’s play, England were 3-91 with Ian Bell unbeaten on 31 and Joe Root yet to score.

England lead the tourists – who were bowled out for 308 in their first innings – by 213 runs with seven wickets in hand, making Australia’s victory chances very unlikely.

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Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc (1-21 off five overs) bowled in obvious discomfort on Saturday as he battled an ankle problem.

But admirably, Starc’s pace didn’t drop off and he removed England captain Alastair Cook for 12 when he was caught by Nathan Lyon at gully.

Josh Hazlewood (1-23 off seven) then had Gary Ballance caught behind for a seven-ball duck, leaving England at 2-22.

Adam Lyth (37) and Bell steadied the ship though, adding 51 valuable runs in quick time for the third wicket.

Lyth’s stay was superbly ended by Australia captain Michael Clarke, who snared a stunning one-handed catch at slip off the bowling of Lyon.

But with Bell and Root at the crease, Australia still have plenty of work to do.

Earlier, Australia, who resumed at 5-264, added just one run to their overnight score before Shane Watson was trapped lbw for 30.

Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon fell three overs later for six, also lbw.

Brad Haddin (22) and Mitchell Johnson (14) added 39 runs but fell in the space of just four deliveries and Starc did not trouble the scorers in a disappointing collapse.

Australia lost 5-44 in 14.5 overs to hand the initiative to England in the first of the five-Test series.

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