Hi
Congrats to all England fans.
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Celebrations begin as 16-year wait is over
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
September 12, 2005
England 373 and 335 (Pietersen 158, Giles 59, Warne 6-124) drew with Australia 367 and 4 for 0
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Wicket-by-wicket in pictures
How they were out
Kevin Pietersen lofts Brett Lee for six © The Sun
Finally, to the relief of a nation, the match finished, albeit it slightly anticlimactic circumstances, as the umpires went back out to the middle to remove the bails after a final stoppage for bad light. The party had started ...
5.50pm England 373 and 335 (Pietersen 158, Giles 59, Warne 6-124) lead Australia 367 by 341 runs
Only the final moments remain before England can officially regain the Ashes after 18 years, following a superb match saving 158 from Kevin Pietersen. Australia fought tooth and nail during the day and at lunch were edging into the favourites position with England leading by only 133. But Pietersen took charge after lunch and withstood everything that was thrown at him.
However, when Geraint Jones was bowled Australia still had a sniff until Ashley Giles combined with Pietersen in an Ashes sealing stand of 109. Giles went to his own fifty in grand style by clubbing Glenn McGrath for two consecutive fours. Shane Warne bowled his heart out for more than 38 overs and completed a 12-wicket haul of the match and taking his series haul to 40. But, for once, it was not enough for Australia and now their openers must face one final burst from England before retreating to lick their wounds.
5.05pm England 373 and 309 for 8 (Giles 39*, Hoggard 1*) lead Australia 367 by 315 runs
Kevin Pietersen's magnificent innings was ended for 158 by Glenn McGrath, but it was a final act of defiance from Australia, who know the Ashes are gone. Ricky Ponting took the new ball and McGrath and Brett Lee charged it, trying to ensure Australia could finish the match with their heads held high. Pietersen received a richly deserved standing ovation from a crowd that have started their celebrations.
4.50pm England 373 and 298 for 7 (Pietersen 153*, Giles 53*) lead Australia 367 by 304 runs
England have their hands firmly on the Ashes as Kevin Pietersen advanced 150 with some celebratory strokeplay off Shane Warne. He launched Warne for a straight six - his seventh maximum his innings - and Australian heads are now down as they know the Ashes are gone. But while Pietersen will, rightly, take the plaudits and fill up the newspapers, Ashley Giles has proved brilliant support with a confident and increasingly dashing, knock. The hundred partnership came up amid huge cheers from The Oval crowd and now the lead is past 300 the England supporters are starting to party.
4.10pm England 373 and 258 for 7 (Pietersen 131*, Giles 17*) lead Australia 367 by 264 runs
Kevin Pietersen continued his onslaught against Australia's attack as the odds swung significantly towards England on the final afternoon. He took on a tiring Shane Warne, hoisting him for a straight six shortly after planting Brett Lee into the stands. Ashley Giles is offering valuable support and Ricky Ponting is rapidly approaching last throw of the dice stage. The nervous cheers from early in the day now have a more celebratory tone as the England fans start to believe.
Tea England 373 and 221 for 7 (Pietersen 106*, Giles 5*) lead Australia 367 by 210 runs
Kevin Pietersen reached a dramatic, maiden Test century as this match continued to ebb and flow in a fitting a finale to an epic series. As Pietersen strode back to the pavilion for the tea interval he knows that every over he remains at the crease is one closer to England regaining the Ashes. However, as Australia have showed throughout this tension-filled day they are straining every final sinew in their bodies to hold on to the urn
As hard as Shane Warne tried to conjure one final dazzling spell of magic it was Pietersen who held sway during the afternoon. Australia have had their chances to dismiss him and those missed opportunities are costing them dear. Matthew Hayden failed to cling onto a rebound off Adam Gilchrist's pad and then Warne dropped at sitting at first slip. Pietersen took it as a sign that it was his day and let rip.
Following a morning session where England had seriously tottered by losing four wickets Pietersen decided that attack was the way forward. With the runs to overs equation always at the forefront of everyone's minds Pietersen launched a stunning boundary barrage against a fired-up Brett Lee.
Pietersen reached his fifty from 70 balls and then really cut loose, hooking Lee him for two sixes into the stands and also two fours down to fine leg. Shaun Tait made a despairing dive at one of the boundaries, but it would have been an unbelievable catch if he had held on.
England's progress slowed after Pietersen's onslaught as they consolidated against some accurate bowling from Glenn McGrath and Warne. After the run spree Pietersen switched into single mode while Paul Collingwood was content to watch the ball sail past his off stump from McGrath. Warne had a huge shout for a catch at slip off Pietersen turned down from a bottom-edged sweep.
But Warne wasn't finish having an effect on the final chapter. He took his tenth wicket of the match, just at the right time for Australia, to break a stand of 60 between Pietersen and Collingwood. The runs dried up for the England pair and two balls after Collingwood had broken the shackles with pull off Warne he propped forward and was smartly taken at silly point by Ricky Ponting.
Shaun Tait then kept Australia alive when he bowled Geraint Jones in his first over. Pietersen had dispatched the first two balls to the boundary to take England's lead over 200 but Tait's fifth ball scuttled through low and sent the off stump cart wheeling out of the ground. Pietersen brought up his century from 124 balls by creaming a cover drive off Tait and launched it some expansive celebrations. But the job is not yet done and he needs to bat - with the support of the tail - for another hour.
Although the tension was still high tea, it was nothing compared to the morning sessioin. Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan had moved along comfortably in the first 40 minute before McGrath made his mark. Firstly he removed Vaughan via a brilliant diving catch by Gilchrist, who had to make a lot of ground with the first slip stood wide. Then McGrath completed a miserable match for Ian Bell - who bagged a pair - as Warne held a simple catch at slip (making his later miss even more amazing) from the next ball. And McGrath was within a whisker of a hat-trick when he bounced Pietersen but the delivery brushed the shoulder and not the glove.
It was a prelude of what was to come for Pietersen, who received a barrage of short-pitched bowling from McGrath and Lee. Pietersen and Trescothick were carefully rebuilding the innings, with Pietersen taking the aggressive route by hoisting Warne for two sixes over mid wicket, but Warne had more tricks up his sleeve. A huge appeal for lbw against Trescothick had already been denied - a brilliant decision by Rudi Koertzen - but the next appeal was answered in Warne's favour as Trescothick fatally played back.
With Pietersen joined by Flintoff, England's powerhouse middle order had a chance to take the game away from Australia, but Warne was too good for Flintoff. A series of full balls finally brought reward when Flintoff rifled a drive back down the pitch. In the last over of the session Pietersen received a torrid working over from Lee. He was hit in the ribs and then smashed on the gloves, with the ball ballooning over the slips. But Pietersen has answered every challenge that has been thrown at him in international cricket, and is on the verge of his greatest achievement, as this series gets the climax it warranted.
How they were out
England
Andrew Strauss c Katich b Warne 1 (2 for 1)
Inside edge to short leg
Michael Vaughan c Gilchrist b McGrath 45 (67 for 2)
Outside edge, superb diving catch
Ian Bell c Warne b McGrath 0 (67 for 3)
Regulation outside edge to first slip
Marcus Trescothick lbw b Warne 33 (109 for 4)
Played back to a sharply spun legbreak
Andrew Flintoff c & b Warne 8 (126 for 5)
Flat-batted return catch
Paul Collingwood c Ponting b Warne 10 (186 for 6)
Bat-pad to silly point
Geraint Jones b Tait 1 (199 for 7)
Beaten for pace, ball kept low, hit off stump
Kevin Pietersen b McGrath 158 (308 for 8)
Play around a full ball, hit off stump
Ashley Giles b Warne 59 (335 for 9)
Bowled round his legs
Steve Hamrison c Hayden b Warne 0 (335 all out)
Regulation edge to slip
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
Congrats to all England fans.
------------
Celebrations begin as 16-year wait is over
The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan
September 12, 2005
England 373 and 335 (Pietersen 158, Giles 59, Warne 6-124) drew with Australia 367 and 4 for 0
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Wicket-by-wicket in pictures
How they were out
Kevin Pietersen lofts Brett Lee for six © The Sun
Finally, to the relief of a nation, the match finished, albeit it slightly anticlimactic circumstances, as the umpires went back out to the middle to remove the bails after a final stoppage for bad light. The party had started ...
5.50pm England 373 and 335 (Pietersen 158, Giles 59, Warne 6-124) lead Australia 367 by 341 runs
Only the final moments remain before England can officially regain the Ashes after 18 years, following a superb match saving 158 from Kevin Pietersen. Australia fought tooth and nail during the day and at lunch were edging into the favourites position with England leading by only 133. But Pietersen took charge after lunch and withstood everything that was thrown at him.
However, when Geraint Jones was bowled Australia still had a sniff until Ashley Giles combined with Pietersen in an Ashes sealing stand of 109. Giles went to his own fifty in grand style by clubbing Glenn McGrath for two consecutive fours. Shane Warne bowled his heart out for more than 38 overs and completed a 12-wicket haul of the match and taking his series haul to 40. But, for once, it was not enough for Australia and now their openers must face one final burst from England before retreating to lick their wounds.
5.05pm England 373 and 309 for 8 (Giles 39*, Hoggard 1*) lead Australia 367 by 315 runs
Kevin Pietersen's magnificent innings was ended for 158 by Glenn McGrath, but it was a final act of defiance from Australia, who know the Ashes are gone. Ricky Ponting took the new ball and McGrath and Brett Lee charged it, trying to ensure Australia could finish the match with their heads held high. Pietersen received a richly deserved standing ovation from a crowd that have started their celebrations.
4.50pm England 373 and 298 for 7 (Pietersen 153*, Giles 53*) lead Australia 367 by 304 runs
England have their hands firmly on the Ashes as Kevin Pietersen advanced 150 with some celebratory strokeplay off Shane Warne. He launched Warne for a straight six - his seventh maximum his innings - and Australian heads are now down as they know the Ashes are gone. But while Pietersen will, rightly, take the plaudits and fill up the newspapers, Ashley Giles has proved brilliant support with a confident and increasingly dashing, knock. The hundred partnership came up amid huge cheers from The Oval crowd and now the lead is past 300 the England supporters are starting to party.
4.10pm England 373 and 258 for 7 (Pietersen 131*, Giles 17*) lead Australia 367 by 264 runs
Kevin Pietersen continued his onslaught against Australia's attack as the odds swung significantly towards England on the final afternoon. He took on a tiring Shane Warne, hoisting him for a straight six shortly after planting Brett Lee into the stands. Ashley Giles is offering valuable support and Ricky Ponting is rapidly approaching last throw of the dice stage. The nervous cheers from early in the day now have a more celebratory tone as the England fans start to believe.
Tea England 373 and 221 for 7 (Pietersen 106*, Giles 5*) lead Australia 367 by 210 runs
Kevin Pietersen reached a dramatic, maiden Test century as this match continued to ebb and flow in a fitting a finale to an epic series. As Pietersen strode back to the pavilion for the tea interval he knows that every over he remains at the crease is one closer to England regaining the Ashes. However, as Australia have showed throughout this tension-filled day they are straining every final sinew in their bodies to hold on to the urn
As hard as Shane Warne tried to conjure one final dazzling spell of magic it was Pietersen who held sway during the afternoon. Australia have had their chances to dismiss him and those missed opportunities are costing them dear. Matthew Hayden failed to cling onto a rebound off Adam Gilchrist's pad and then Warne dropped at sitting at first slip. Pietersen took it as a sign that it was his day and let rip.
Following a morning session where England had seriously tottered by losing four wickets Pietersen decided that attack was the way forward. With the runs to overs equation always at the forefront of everyone's minds Pietersen launched a stunning boundary barrage against a fired-up Brett Lee.
Pietersen reached his fifty from 70 balls and then really cut loose, hooking Lee him for two sixes into the stands and also two fours down to fine leg. Shaun Tait made a despairing dive at one of the boundaries, but it would have been an unbelievable catch if he had held on.
England's progress slowed after Pietersen's onslaught as they consolidated against some accurate bowling from Glenn McGrath and Warne. After the run spree Pietersen switched into single mode while Paul Collingwood was content to watch the ball sail past his off stump from McGrath. Warne had a huge shout for a catch at slip off Pietersen turned down from a bottom-edged sweep.
But Warne wasn't finish having an effect on the final chapter. He took his tenth wicket of the match, just at the right time for Australia, to break a stand of 60 between Pietersen and Collingwood. The runs dried up for the England pair and two balls after Collingwood had broken the shackles with pull off Warne he propped forward and was smartly taken at silly point by Ricky Ponting.
Shaun Tait then kept Australia alive when he bowled Geraint Jones in his first over. Pietersen had dispatched the first two balls to the boundary to take England's lead over 200 but Tait's fifth ball scuttled through low and sent the off stump cart wheeling out of the ground. Pietersen brought up his century from 124 balls by creaming a cover drive off Tait and launched it some expansive celebrations. But the job is not yet done and he needs to bat - with the support of the tail - for another hour.
Although the tension was still high tea, it was nothing compared to the morning sessioin. Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan had moved along comfortably in the first 40 minute before McGrath made his mark. Firstly he removed Vaughan via a brilliant diving catch by Gilchrist, who had to make a lot of ground with the first slip stood wide. Then McGrath completed a miserable match for Ian Bell - who bagged a pair - as Warne held a simple catch at slip (making his later miss even more amazing) from the next ball. And McGrath was within a whisker of a hat-trick when he bounced Pietersen but the delivery brushed the shoulder and not the glove.
It was a prelude of what was to come for Pietersen, who received a barrage of short-pitched bowling from McGrath and Lee. Pietersen and Trescothick were carefully rebuilding the innings, with Pietersen taking the aggressive route by hoisting Warne for two sixes over mid wicket, but Warne had more tricks up his sleeve. A huge appeal for lbw against Trescothick had already been denied - a brilliant decision by Rudi Koertzen - but the next appeal was answered in Warne's favour as Trescothick fatally played back.
With Pietersen joined by Flintoff, England's powerhouse middle order had a chance to take the game away from Australia, but Warne was too good for Flintoff. A series of full balls finally brought reward when Flintoff rifled a drive back down the pitch. In the last over of the session Pietersen received a torrid working over from Lee. He was hit in the ribs and then smashed on the gloves, with the ball ballooning over the slips. But Pietersen has answered every challenge that has been thrown at him in international cricket, and is on the verge of his greatest achievement, as this series gets the climax it warranted.
How they were out
England
Andrew Strauss c Katich b Warne 1 (2 for 1)
Inside edge to short leg
Michael Vaughan c Gilchrist b McGrath 45 (67 for 2)
Outside edge, superb diving catch
Ian Bell c Warne b McGrath 0 (67 for 3)
Regulation outside edge to first slip
Marcus Trescothick lbw b Warne 33 (109 for 4)
Played back to a sharply spun legbreak
Andrew Flintoff c & b Warne 8 (126 for 5)
Flat-batted return catch
Paul Collingwood c Ponting b Warne 10 (186 for 6)
Bat-pad to silly point
Geraint Jones b Tait 1 (199 for 7)
Beaten for pace, ball kept low, hit off stump
Kevin Pietersen b McGrath 158 (308 for 8)
Play around a full ball, hit off stump
Ashley Giles b Warne 59 (335 for 9)
Bowled round his legs
Steve Hamrison c Hayden b Warne 0 (335 all out)
Regulation edge to slip
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
