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Pietersen spares England blushes Australia fightback stuns England
(about 3 hours later)
Kevin Pietersen smashed 70 and Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison put on 40 for the final wicket as England hauled themselves back into the third Test. England's grip on the Ashes urn looked to be slipping away after Australia ended day two of the Perth Test on 119-1 - a lead of 144.
England had been in danger of throwing away the Ashes but the fantastic rear-guard action gave England hope. England need to at least draw the third Test after going 2-0 down to keep their defence of the Ashes alive.
They were finally dismissed just before tea for 215, 29 runs behind Australia in a match England need at least a draw to keep their Ashes defence alive. But they were dismissed for 215, Kevin Pietersen top-scoring with 70 and Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison adding 40 for the final wicket.
Stuart Clark took 3-49 and Andrew Symonds took 2-8. At the close, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden were both on 57.
Matthew Hoggard had given England hope when he found some inswing to dislodge Justin Langer's middle stump for a first-ball duck.
But England's joy was short-lived as Hayden and Ponting looked increasingly assured at the crease, although Ponting had a couple of uncomfortable lbw moments, with umpire Rudi Koertzen turning down England's appeals.
Ponting, averaging more than 100 in the series, recorded his 36th Test fifty and Hayden, whose place in the side had been under threat, chipped in with his 27th half-century.
It had been a poor day for England in a match they needed to avoid defeat in to stand any chance of defending the Ashes.
The were some bright spots with Kevin Pietersen smashing 70 and Monty Panesar and Steve Harmison's entertaining partnership.
Pietersen hit eight fours and a six in his 70
But on a day when England were hoping to gain a big first innings lead they failed miserably in the critical sessions with the bat and the ball.
England had resumed on 51-2, looking to build a big lead, but Australia's seamers made life very difficult for Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss.England had resumed on 51-2, looking to build a big lead, but Australia's seamers made life very difficult for Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss.
And sure enough the breakthrough did not take long in coming.And sure enough the breakthrough did not take long in coming.
In the fourth over of the morning Collingwood was enticed by Glenn McGrath and his slice shot was snaffled by Matthew Hayden at gully for 11 to leave England on 55-3, adding just four runs to the overnight total.In the fourth over of the morning Collingwood was enticed by Glenn McGrath and his slice shot was snaffled by Matthew Hayden at gully for 11 to leave England on 55-3, adding just four runs to the overnight total.
In came Kevin Pietersen and after some heart-stopping moments when he chased deliveries he should have been leaving well alone, England began to look a bit more comfortable. And just as Strauss and Pietersen were beginning to look comfortable at the crease, there was heartbreak for Strauss.
But then there was heartbreak for Strauss. After reaching his highest score of the Test series, 42, with a fantastic four, Strauss was adjudged to have edged behind, off Stuart Clark's bowling.
After reaching his highest score of the Test series, 42, with a fantastic four, Strauss was adjudged to have edged behind, off Clark's bowling.
Strauss looked shocked to see umpire Rudi Koertzen raise his finger and replays showed Strauss had a strong argument as there did not appear to be any contact between the bat and the ball but he had to walk.Strauss looked shocked to see umpire Rudi Koertzen raise his finger and replays showed Strauss had a strong argument as there did not appear to be any contact between the bat and the ball but he had to walk.
It was the second time in the last two Tests he has been on the wrong end of a decision.
England were reeling on 82-4 and the wave of unease continued for the tourists as captain Flintoff, who had batted poorly all series, could not bring about a change in England's fortunes.England were reeling on 82-4 and the wave of unease continued for the tourists as captain Flintoff, who had batted poorly all series, could not bring about a change in England's fortunes.
He became Symonds' first victim when he edged to Shane Warne in the slips for 13. He became part-time medium pacer Andrew Symonds' first victim when he edged to Shane Warne in the slips for 13.
It was down to Geraint Jones and Pietersen to rescue England but Jones lasted all of four balls to score the first duck of his Test career in his 52nd match, which had been a world record. Geraint Jones then lasted all of four balls to score the first duck of his Test career in his 52nd match, which had been a world record.
There was no excuse for his sloppy shot off Symonds which was caught at gully by Justin Langer and England went into lunch at 122-6.There was no excuse for his sloppy shot off Symonds which was caught at gully by Justin Langer and England went into lunch at 122-6.
Symonds, playing in his first Test of the series after the retirement of Damien Martyn, was delighted with his four over spell. Symonds, playing in his first Test of the series after the retirement of Damien Martyn, was delighted with his four over spell which yielded two wickets and cost just eight runs.
The demise continued soon after lunch with Sajid Mahmood, batting at number eight, top-edging Clark for 10.The demise continued soon after lunch with Sajid Mahmood, batting at number eight, top-edging Clark for 10.
But there was some stubborn resistance out there with Matthew Hoggard hanging around with Pietersen for 47 minutes and adding 27 runs for the eighth wicket.But there was some stubborn resistance out there with Matthew Hoggard hanging around with Pietersen for 47 minutes and adding 27 runs for the eighth wicket.
It gave Pietersen the chance to record his eighth Test fifty before Hoggard was eventually outdone by a leg-break by Shane Warne and was caught at slip by Hayden after a nurdling 39-ball four.It gave Pietersen the chance to record his eighth Test fifty before Hoggard was eventually outdone by a leg-break by Shane Warne and was caught at slip by Hayden after a nurdling 39-ball four.
Pietersen was then given a second chance after being dropped by McGrath on 53 but after smashing a six, a boundary and a few singles, he went for another big heave-ho and was caught by Symonds in the deep for a 123-ball 70 which included eight fours and one six.Pietersen was then given a second chance after being dropped by McGrath on 53 but after smashing a six, a boundary and a few singles, he went for another big heave-ho and was caught by Symonds in the deep for a 123-ball 70 which included eight fours and one six.
Then came the fun and games with Harmison and Panesar providing entertainment for nearly an hour nefore tea with the bat as they smashed whatever Australia threw at them. Then came the fun and games with Harmison and Panesar providing entertainment for nearly an hour before tea with the bat as they smashed whatever Australia threw at them.
Harmison finally went for 23, leaving Panesar stranded on 16 not out but their valuable 40-run partnership was the highest of England's innings.Harmison finally went for 23, leaving Panesar stranded on 16 not out but their valuable 40-run partnership was the highest of England's innings.
England got the immediate breakthrough they needed but found it a struggle to make any more in-roads and it looked as though their title of Ashes holders would be short-lived.