Collingwood 50 stalls Australia

BRISBANE, Nov 26 (Reuters) England batsman Paul Collingwood scored a defiant half-century to stall Australia's push towards a landslide victory in the first Ashes test today.

Collingwood held the Australian bowlers at bay for more than two hours to remain unbeaten on 56 when tea was taken on the fourth day at the Gabba.

Collingwood shared an unbroken 59-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen (25 not out) to lift England to 150 for three but they are still in deep trouble at the start of their bid to defend the Ashes they won back last year for the first time since 1989.

Australia had led by 647 runs after declaring their second innings on 202-1 shortly after the start of play on Sunday, and looked to be on course to wrap up victory with a day to spare after picking up three early wickets.

Opener Andrew Strauss threw his wicket away on 11 with the total on 29 when he hooked Stuart Clark straight to substitute fielder Ryan Broad at fine leg, mirroring his reckless dismissal in the first innings.

Ian Bell, who batted almost four hours for a half-century in England's dismal first-innings total of 157, followed a few minutes later for a for a duck with the total on 36 when Shane Warne trapped him lbw.

Warne had failed to take a wicket in the first innings but was starting to cause problems with cracks opening up on the Gabba pitch and the leg-spinner claimed a second scalp after lunch when he dismissed Alastair Cook.

The left-handed opener had batted patiently over 129 minutes to reach 43 but departed when he was caught by Mike Hussey at short leg after Warne came round the wicket to change the angle.

Collingwood had a scare on one when Damien Martyn dropped a sharp reflex catch at short extra cover and survived a few anxious moments to post his first half-century in an Ashes series.

Australia ended their second innings 23 minutes after the start of play when Justin Langer completed his century with a single off Steve Harmison.

Langer had resumed unbeaten on 88 and wasted little time chalking up his 23rd test hundred and fifth against England, finishing 100 not out off 147 balls.

Langer shared an unbroken partnership of 113 with his captain Ricky Ponting who made 60 not out after his 196 in Australia's first-innings total of 602 for nine declared.

Ponting, who decided not to enforce the follow-on after his team led by 445 on first innings, was troubled by lower back pain and did not return to the field before tea.

REUTERS PM PM1047