KP slams ton, Eng hang on
Kevin Pietersen scored an emphatic hundred to steer England towards safety in the third Test match in Manchester on Saturday. Pietersen 106* was with Johnny Bairstow 18* at the crease. Australia got the crucial breakthrough when Ryan Harris castled Ian Bell who made a well made 60.
Bell and Pietersen added 115 runs for the fifth wicket which proved to be a crucial partnership after the visitors had reduced England to 110/4. Pietersen struck 11 boundaries and a six in his innings. He earlier survived a LBW decision which Clarke didn’t review though DRS showed he was out. But they had at least denied Australia who, at 2-0 down with three to play, had to win this match to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, a wicket in the session.
Pietersen was 78 not out and Bell, who’d already made two hundreds this series, 51 not out with the fifth-wicket duo’s partnership so far worth 101. England resumed Saturday on 52 for two after Australia had made 527 for seven declared on the back of captain Michael Clarke’s commanding 187.
It was Clarke’s highest Test score against England and the highest in an overseas Test by any Australian since nightwatchman Jason Gillespie’s extraordinary 201 not out against Bangladesh seven years ago. Shortly before Friday’s close, Australia paceman Peter Siddle removed opener Joe Root and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan. England captain Alastair Cook was 36 not out and Jonathan Trott two not out.
However, Trott was out for five when he edged a good length ball from fast bowler Ryan Harris low to Clarke at second slip. Trott’s exit brought in fellow South Africa-born batsman Pietersen, arguably England’s most talented batsman. Pietersen, however, was fortunate not to nick his first ball, an excellent delivery from Harris, and then got off the mark only by just keeping out a fine yorker from the same bowler. Pietersen, after a nervy start, began to find his touch with two well-pulled fours in successive balls from left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc.
But shortly before lunch Starc had Cook caught superbly for 62 by diving wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who held a right-handed chance off a genuine glance.
