Australia’s Ryan Harris celebrates after dismissing England’s Ian Bell (left) during the third day of the third Ashes Test cricket match at Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester, yesterday.
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Kevin Pietersen’s first century of this Ashes series helped see England to within sight of avoiding the follow-on in the third Test against Australia at Old Trafford yesterday.
At the close of the third day, England were 294 for seven -- still 233 runs behind -- after Pietersen had made 113.
Matt Prior was six not out and Stuart Broad nine not out, with England now needing just 34 more runs to make Australia bat again in a match the tourists, 2-0 down with three to play, had to win to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes.
The hundred was Pietersen’s 23rd in 97 Tests -- but first at this level at Old Trafford -- and left him two shy of the England Test century record of 25 held by Alastair Cook.
It came almost a year to the day since Pietersen’s Test hundred against his native South Africa at Headingley, after which he was briefly dropped from the England side for sending texts allegedly critical of then England captain Andrew Strauss to Proteas players.
Together with Ian Bell, who made an elegant 60, Pietersen put on 115 for the fifth wicket and 52 for the sixth with Jonny Bairstow (22).
The Ashes-holders resumed yesterday on 52 for two after Australia had declared at 527 for seven on the back of captain Michael Clarke’s commanding 187.
It was his highest Test score against England and the highest by any Australian in an overseas Test since nightwatchman Jason Gillespie’s extraordinary 201 not out against Bangladesh seven years ago.
At the start of play, England captain Cook was 36 not out and Jonathan Trott two not out.
However, Trott fell for five when he edged a good length ball from fast bowler Ryan Harris low to Clarke at second slip.
Pietersen, arguably England’s most talented batsman, was fortunate not to nick his first ball, an excellent delivery from Harris, and only got off the mark after just digging out a yorker from the same bowler.
Meanwhile left-hander Cook completed a 138-ball fifty including seven fours.
But shortly before lunch left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc had Cook caught superbly for 62 by diving wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who held a right-handed chance off a genuine glance.
Then Bell, on four, survived an appeal for a catch by Haddin off Starc with the ‘Snicko’ device, not part of the Decision Review System that has caused so much controversy this series, indicating he had got a thin edge.
At lunch, England were 119 for four with Pietersen on 33 and Bell on four.
The 33-year-old Pietersen then attacked Nathan Lyon, dancing down the pitch to drive the off-spinner for two sixes in successive balls as he went to fifty.
Pietersen might have been out for 62 when Australia opted against reviewing an lbw appeal from all-rounder Shane Watson turned down by umpire Tony Hill that DRS indicated was out.
Australia took the new ball with England 198 for four off 81 overs but, Bell drove Starc down the ground.AFP
