Finally got round to finishing the Cardiff Test of the Ashes series, and what a game it was. Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first, turned out to be a wise decision as they made a more than healthy 353, with Clarke top scoring with 95. I then started slowly, losing 2 wickets fairly early, being 45/2 at one stage. Cook and Pietersen fought back though, putting on a massive partnership, with KP flying, bringing up his century in just 77 balls. Cook also made a century, but in more normal Test style, ending with 125 from 199 balls. We were eventually dismissed for 437, giving me a lead of 80odd going into Australia's 2nd innings.
When bowling 2nd I managed to bowl far more consistent and threatening lines, and the patience paid off. Hussey and Haddin were the only 2 batsmen to get going, but they both got out in the 40's. The wickets were pretty evenly spread round, with Flintoff and Anderson picking up 3fer each. Australia were bowled out for 202 and I thought I had the game wrapped up, needing just 119 to win.
We started badly. Being reduced to 21/4. Strauss bowled by Johnson, Cook run out, Pietersen out hooking to Hilfenhaus and Bopara lbw to Siddle. Prior and Collingwood's partnership didn't last long either, with Collingwood edging behind for 4. That bought Flintoff to the crease, and his timing was excellent from the off, as he was taking advantage of anything the Australians served up. When Flintoff was gone lbw playing across the line to a Johnson inswinger, the pressure was on. The pressure increased when Broad top-edged to Haddin first ball.
Prior continued to play his shots, moving into the 30's, and along with Swann taking England into the hundreds. Swann then inside edged onto his stumps, mis-timing a drive off Hussey to bring Anderson to the crease. Anderson got off the mark, but 2 balls faced later, and a massive mix up in the running resulted in him getting run out by Hauritz. This brought the last man Panesar to the crease. He managed to play out 5 balls from Johnson to survive the over, which left things to Matt Prior with England needing just 7 to win. Hilfenhaus relieved the pressure, bowling a short wide one which was cut square for 4. England trail by 2.
Penultimate ball of the over, and Prior steals a single. Panesar manages to leave a wideish half volley from Hilfenhaus to leave Prior on strike with a deficit of just 1. Mitchell Johnson the bowler, 1st ball of the over is short and straight, Prior gets onto his toes and pushes defensively onto the on-side, he goes for a run, but realises late that it's not going to happen, he scrambles back, puts the dive in and the run out appeal is sent to the 3rd umpire. He just gets back, a split second late with the dive and he'd have been gone.
2nd ball of the over is wide of off-stump and left by Prior. Then, Johnson offers up exactly what Prior wanted, a full, out-side off-stump half volley. Prior leaps onto the front foot, looking to smash the ball through the vacant cover region to win the game for England and end 45 not out. But to England's horror, the shot is mis-timed, the ball flies off the edge of Prior's bat and heads for the 2nd slip area, Katich dives and throws out an arm, clings on and takes an incredible diving catch. Australia win. Prior goes for 41 from 48 balls with England needing just 2 more runs to win the match. What an end. Australia win by just 1 run.
Scorecard:
Bopara was bowled whilst playing a pull shot.....after I chose to play off the front foot. :sarcasm Rebuilding with Cook and Pietersen.
