Pietersen’s 213 swells England
Kevin Pietersen became the fifth Englishman to score a double century
in Australia as England’s lead ballooned to 306 runs on the third day of
the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
The number four showman relished his return to the ground where he
last hammered a big century to continue England’s relentless
accumulation of runs to plunder the home attack.
When rain washed out play after tea England were 551 for four with
Pietersen on a majestic 213 and Ian Bell providing solid support on 41.
Skipper Andrew Strauss has a decision to make whether to bat on or
declare and send Australia back in with two days left to get a crucial
result with the weather threatening to intervene.
Pietersen joined teammates Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood, Walter
Hammond (3) and Reg Foster as English double-centurions in Australia.
Pietersen dominated the third day as he helped himself to his second
Test double-century and was within reach of his highest Test score of
226 against the West Indies in May 2007.
In doing so Pietersen broke through for his first Test century in 28
innings since his 102 against the West Indies at the Port-of-Spain in
March last year.
Pietersen was in virtuoso form, clubbing 31 fours and jumping down
the wicket to launch a six off the hapless spinner Xavier Doherty in his
chanceless knock.
Four years ago Pietersen scored 158 and Collingwood 206 in a record
stand of 310 in England’s first innings 551 for six declared the
tourists were coincidentally on the same total Sunday against a
despairing home attack.
Cook’s occupation of the crease earlier ended on 148 in the 97th over
when he inside edged paceman Ryan Harris to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
The Adelaide crowd rose to their feet to cheer Cook from the field
after his 15th Test century and third against Australia.
Cook has now scored 450 runs in the series for two dismissals at an
extraordinary average of 225.
The Essex left-hander has now occupied the crease for almost
22-and-a-half hours and faced 865 balls in the series. Collingwood was
the other England wicket to fall on Sunday when he was trapped in front
lbw by Shane Watson for 42 ending a 101-run stand with Pietersen.
Dominant England have now amassed 1,068 runs in their last two
innings of the series for the loss of just five wickets.
Australia, drained by their second day in the field, looked bereft of
ideas to contain England’s remorseless run chase with skipper Ricky
Ponting attempting to dry up the scoring with some unorthodox field
placements.
It was painful exposure to Test cricket for left-arm spinner Doherty,
who went wicketless for 120 off his 24 overs in his second Test match,
while Doug Bollinger proved expensive at 1-121 off 27 overs. Opener
Simon Katich left the field during the second session with what was
reported to be a heel problem, after he hobbled around the field in
obvious discomfort.
The home side were paying dearly for the abject failure of their
batsmen in a below par 245 after winning the toss on Friday’s opening
day.
It was Australia’s worst performance in the first innings at Adelaide
since being skittled by the West Indies for 213 in 1993.
ADELAIDE, AFP
AUSTRALIA
1ST INNINGS 245
(M. Hussey 93, B. Haddin 56, S. Watson 51; J. Anderson 4-51)
ENGLAND
1ST INNINGS
(overnight 317 for 2):
A. Strauss b Bollinger 1
A. Cook c Haddin b Harris 148
J. Trott c Clarke b Harris 78
K. Pietersen not out 213
P. Collingwood lbw b Watson 42
I. Bell not out 41
Extras (b8, lb12, w8) 28
Total (4 wkts, 143 overs) 551
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-176, 3-351, 4-452.
Bowling: Harris 29-5-84-2 (1w), Bollinger 27-1-121-1 (6w), Siddle 26-3-100-0 (1w),
Watson 19-7-44-1, Doherty 24-3-120-0, North 18-0-62-0.
To bat: M. Prior, S. Broad, G. Swann, S. Finn, J. Anderson. |
