Lee takes six wickets as England Lions all out for 352

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee was denied a career best haul by a wicketkeeping error against the England Lions today.

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WORCESTER // Australia fast bowler Brett Lee was denied a career best haul by a wicketkeeping error against the England Lions today, but he still finished with figures of six for 76 at Worcester. The Lions were dismissed for 352 before Australia reached 24 for one in their second innings at lunch on day three of the four-day match, which is Australia's final warm-up before next week's Ashes series commences.

Simon Katich was on 11 and Ricky Ponting five, as Australia led by 30 runs. Phillip Hughes was the man out, dismissed for the second time in the match by a short delivery from Lions fast bowler Steve Harmison, for eight. He failed to evade a steep bouncing ball and gloved it to second slip. It may boost Harmison's chances of a Test recall. Lee, with five wickets overnight, was seeking to better his first-class career best of seven for 114 but keeper Brad Haddin's drop off Harmison denied him. It was Haddin's second drop of the innings.

All four remaining Lions wickets fell once the new ball was taken. Mitchell Johnson claimed his first wicket of the innings by bowling Tim Bresnan off the inside edge. Lee removed Sajid Mahmood next, unsettling him with a quick bouncer first ball and then bowling him second delivery after the ball struck Mahmood's shoulder only to roll on to the stumps and dislodge the bails. Adil Rashid, who scored a gritty 66, registered his half-century by playing a carefree slash at Lee for a boundary over backward point for four.

Lee was then denied his best bowling figures. Harmison was on seven when Haddin dived to his right, managed to get a full glove on the ball but still spilt the chance. Stuart Clark, who had Rashid well caught in the gully by Mike Hussey, wrapped up the innings by having Graham Onions caught. Australia made 358 in their first innings when Hussey scored 150. *AP