England - 1st Innings - 377 (144.4 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 111/6 (23 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 206/5 (40 overs)
MATCH DRAWN - ENGLAND WIN THE ASHES SERIES 3-0
Although the final test of the 2013 Ashes Series didn't have as much meaning as the others, it certainly did not stop both teams from putting on a vastly entertaining display on the final day of the last test at the Oval.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia lost their first wicket early on. David Warner edging the ball into Prior's hands for a routine catch, but Chris Rogers shut up shop and Watson come in and bat. Rogers did eventually get dismissed for 23 when Trott took a good low catch but that didn't affect Watson who continued to bat with confidence and got his century with over one every two balls.
Michael Clarke was dismissed cheaply, which meant Steve Smith came in, batting slightly further up the batting order than normal. However Smith took advantage of this and formed a brilliant pairing with Watson who combined put on a 100+ partnership and put Australia in a healthy position. Smith's fantastic innings was reinforced by the fact he didn't get out, as the lower batting order chipped away a few runs, including 33 for Ryan Harris. It was no doubt though that Watson's innings combined with Smith's fine batting was the reason behind Australia's strong first innings.
Australia declared at 492/9 with an impressive 3.81 per over, James Anderson was again the highlight of England's bowling, taking for wickets for overall figures of 4/95. England started strongly with the bat, Alastair Cook was the first to fall for 25 runs, Joe Root put on a good 68 to take England to 118/2 and Trott and Pietersen continued a slow and steady innings from England to put them on 247/4 at the end of day three.
There was to be no play throughout day four, although that didn't stop both teams putting on an exhilarating final day display at the oval, which ended with drama and set a new record for test match cricket.
Realising that a draw was the likely outcome, Ian Bell's dismissal inspired England's lower batsmen to hit out and attempt to up the run rate and beat the follow on. Graeme Swann put on 34 off 24 as England were bowled out for 377 to give Australia the only option to go back in to bat.
At this point the draw was surely the only outcome but what the fans at the Oval were about to see was pure entertainment that even ODI cricket would be proud of. Australia, instead of batting out the day, decided to attempt the impossible of putting on a few runs in short duration and then try to bowl England out.
Unsurprisingly, Australia's batsmen fell for low figures, with impressive bowling from Broad who took four of the 6 wickets but Clark's unbeaten 28 along with Watson 26 runs helped Australia along to 111/6 in which they decided to declare giving England a target of 227.
In theory this outcome would never have occurred had there been higher stakes to this game but the fans got a final day to almost remember as England got agonisingly close to pulling off a remarkable win.
Joe Root was first to be dismissed for 11 off 17 but Jonathan Trott and Cook put on a good partnership and got the ball rolling in the final innings of the Ashes. England were nearing the 100 mark when Cook was dismissed by lbw from James Faulkner. In came Kevin Pietersen, with the stage practically set for him, this was his ideal situation, runs needed in a short time to get a unbelievable final day win. Himself and Trott combined brilliantly and started to make Australia regret their decision to declare. Both players reached their half centuries. Pietersen batting at a rate of over one a ball and England were nearing their target.
However Pietersen fell after attempting the big shot but the ball falling short to long on, Trott was dismissed shortly after as Faulkner got another lbw to set up a tense finish at the Oval.
England needed 57 runs, with light starting to fade but they were determined to fight on and beat the time, the fans were urging England on, ball by ball to help them across the line, Ian Bell managed 17 off 17 before some fine bowling by Mitchell Starc. Chris Woakes continued to collect the runs as England came within 25 runs of their target.
But with a maximum of five overs left bad light stopped play at the Oval causing a rupture of boos all around the stadium, England couldn't believe it, Clarke was doing everything he could previously to stop play, but even though the laws of the ICC state that when the light meter hits a certain number there can be no more play, common sense could have prevailed and England could have been allowed to perhaps finish the day off in style but it wasn't to be. The 447 scored on day five was a record score for test cricket.
England, despite the drama of the last day, won the 2013 Ashes Series 3-0 and will be brimming with confidence when the go to Australia later in the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment