England saves First Test of 2009 Ashes series
Australia has failed to winkle out the last wicket on the final day of the First Ashes Test in Cardiff after a stout tenth-wicket resistance by James Anderson and Monty Panesar robbed them of a hard-fought victory.
Starting the fifth day at two for 20 with a deficit of 219 runs still to make up on Australia’s first innings lead, England played cautiously in an effort to conserve their wickets. This effort was not helped by Kevin Pietersen (8) having his off stump knocked over by Ben Hilfenhaus in the fourth over of the morning, with Pietersen leaving the ball entirely as he had two overs before in surviving a big shout for leg before wicket.
England captain Andrew Strauss (17) joined him in the pavilion six overs later, nicking a regulation Nathan Hauritz off-spinner to keeper Brad Haddin. The third wicket to fall in the morning session was England gloveman Matt Prior (14), who stopped a late cut to Hauritz half way through the shot but allowed the ball to glance off the edge to Michael Clarke at slip.
Paul Collingwood was the rock around which any English rearguard action had to be built, and he found a willing partner in Andrew Flintoff (26), who lasted 71 balls before providing Ricky Ponting with a sharp low catch off Mitchell Johnson. Stuart Broad (14) also tried to hang around but was caught LBW to a skidding Hauritz delivery before tea.
The last session yielded most of a 62-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Collingwood and Graeme Swann (31) before Swann was hoodwinked by Hilfenhaus using the second new ball, sending men out for a hook shot but bowling a slow straight one for the LBW decision.
Anderson (21 not out) looked at some stages like providing enough support to Collingwood, getting England’s total to within six runs of the total required to make Australia bat again, but it was Collingwood (74) himself who eventually fell, hitting a loose shot from Peter Siddle to gully where Michael Hussey juggled the catch.
The remaining 11 overs were the sort of tense, pulsating Test cricket that Ashes series have come to be known for, with Panesar (7 not out) and Anderson both not providing a chance to leave England nine for 252 with a second-innings lead of just 13 runs. The Australian bowlers could not get the vital breakthrough and will have to go to the second Test at Lord’s with disappointment in their minds.
