SYDNEY Australia (AP) — Alastair Cook continued his series domination of the Australian bowlers, scoring an unbeaten 61 yesterday and sharing important partnerships with Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen as England cut the first-innings deficit to 113 runs on day two of the fifth Ashes Test.

England, who have already retained the Ashes with a 2-1 lead coming into the last match, are well poised to claim their first Test series win in Australia since 1987.

Cook played the anchor role in a 98-run opening stand with skipper Strauss, who blazed 60 from 58 balls, and then combined with No four Pietersen (36) for 66 runs after England lost two wickets for one run before recovering to 167-3 at stumps in reply to Australia’s 280.

Johnson, who top-scored for Australia with 53 and shared a defiant 76-run stand with No 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, removed Jonathan Trott and Pietersen to return figures of 2-42 in 12 overs.

Nightwatchman Jimmy Anderson survived 20 minutes and was unbeaten on one at stumps.

Jimmy Anderson, who earlier led the England attack with 4-66, said Australia’s rearguard stand was frustrating but had been countered by Strauss and Cook.

Cook, who is chasing his third century of the series and has already scored almost 640 runs, got a lucky reprieve on 46 when he miscued a catch to mid-on that appeared to give rookie left-arm spinner Michael Beer his first Test wicket. But umpire Billy Bowden suspected it was a no-ball and referred the decision to the third umpire, who reviewed the video and confirmed Beer had overstepped.

Anderson said Cook’s response was a reflection of his cool approach in the series.

Johnson said the decision was clearly disappointing for Beer in only his third over of Test cricket, but didn’t dispute the evidence.

Johnson said the system for referring no-balls could be improved, suggesting England spinner Graeme Swann may have overstepped the crease at times as well, but the onus was on the bowlers not to overstep the mark.

Earlier, Strauss raced to 50 with a slashing boundary wide of slips and was in fine touch with eight boundaries and a six before he was bowled by Hilfenhaus with a ball that pitched outside off stump and straightened.

England slipped to 99-2 next over when Trott played on to Johnson, falling for his first ever duck in Test cricket.

Pietersen, who was loudly booed as he walked to the crease, turned his first ball for four.