TON-UP KP GIVES COOK SOME HOPE
But Aussies still in driving seat to keep series alive
FEARLESS Kevin Pietersen cracked his first century of this summer’s Ashes series as England battled back on day three of the third Test.
Pietersen had come into the match at Old Trafford against the Aussies on the back of a lean spell in the first two Tests with a total of just 85 runs in four innings.
There were also question marks over his fitness and he only just made the cut ahead of James Taylor despite managing a calf problem.
But the 33- year- old showed his star billing with an innings that included moments of aggression and flamboyance but was underpinned by a steely determination.
It was also a hundred – off 166 balls with 10 fours and two sixes – of huge significance in the context of the match situation and one which partially pricked any Australian momentum.
When the South African- born batsman arrived at the crease England were 64- 3 in pursuit of Australia’s mammoth 527- 7 declared, and the doubts of England collapses of the not- too- distant past played heavy on the mind of supporters.
By the time he went – lbw to Mitchell Starc for 113 despite using up a review – just before the close he had helped the hosts to within touching distance of the 328 they required to avoid the follow- on.
And with the weather forecast for the next two days on the iffy side, Pietersen’s ton may ultimately be placed in the match- saving and urn- retaining category.
England had started the day 52- 2 with captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott predictably watchful early in the morning session.
Cook looked the more assured of the pair, playing a glorious cover drive to pick up England’s first boundary of the day.
Sizeable
Trott, however, never really looked settled and he soon gave Australia their first breakthrough, when he prodded forward to a Ryan Harris delivery and edged to Michael Clarke at first slip.
Pietersen and Cook played with confidence before lunch, only for the latter to get bat on a Starc delivery angled down leg side which Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin caught diving to his right.
But Ian Bell and Pietersen appeared not to be daunted by the sizeable task ahead of them and batted positively after lunch, particularly against Nathan Lyon.
Pietersen smacked the Australian spinner into the stands for consecutive sixes as he brought up his half century from 71 balls.
Bell was not to be outdone and in Lyon’s next over he too lifted the spinner over mid- off to bring up his own fifty.
Bell departed for 60 shortly after tea with a delivery from Harris which nipped back to clip his off stump.
But Pietersen remained unmoved and passed three figures for the 23rd time in his career.
Starc removed an out ofsorts looking Jonny Bairstow ( 22) when he prodded at a ball angled across him to give Shane Watson an easy catch at first slip.
Left- arm paceman Starc then trapped Pietersen but England finished on 294- 7 – with Matt Prior and Stuart Broad set to resume today 34 runs short of the follow- on.