Lord's, 2nd July - In what could possibly be described as one of the classic one day internationals between Mother Country and her dominion, a tied game was more than a fair result in a match that saw the balance swing back and forth all day. Match Scorecard

Requiring only 197 runs to win the NatWest trophy at Lord's, England scrambled through for a second leg bye off the final McGrath over to clinch a memorable tie after earlier finding themselves struggling at 5 for 33.

Vaughan winning the crucial toss at the start invited Australia to bat on a wicket that was always going to offer that little extra to the fielding side. Things didn't go quite to plan at the start when Gilchrist and Hayden put on a quickfire 50 for the first wicket. Jones struggled with his length early on and Gilchrist took advantage scoring four boundaries in successive balls to take the score on to 35 without loss after only four overs.

Both continued to play freely until Gough accounted for Hayden's dismissal when he mistimed a confident drive to the waiting Giles at mid-off.. The momentum changed at this point with the introduction of an accurate Flintoff , who gave Ponting and Gilchrist a great deal to think about. Gough too had by now found the correct length on the pitch and bowled the first maiden of the match in the 9th over.

Gilchrist was the next to fall when he miss timed a short delivery from Flintoff , the ball catching the top edge fell into the hands of a grateful Pietersen at mid-wicket. Ponting and Martyn took the score on to 71 before the captain fell to a fortunate dismissal from Harmisson's first delivery when he glanced the delivery down the leg side of the middle of the bat, Jones taking a good catch, the first of five for the Welshman. Australia were now 3 for 71 and in all sorts of trouble.

Martyn fell with the score on 90 giving Harmisson his second wicket of the innings. The England bowler had tightened things up his end causing the Australians to go on the defensive. Symonds and Clarke realising that it was necessary to re-build played out 21 dot balls before Clarke fell to a rejuvenated Simon Jones for 2. Despite the more than positive start, this did not look like an Australian outfit brimming with confidence and self assurance. 5 for 93.

The second part of the innings was more than forgetable, Australia scoring at less than four and over on a tricky wicket. It was left to Hussey(*62) to give the visitors any hope with another fine half century, wicket falling at a regular pace following the fall of Symonds (29) giving Collingwood his only wicket of the game. England wrapped up the innings when McGrath holed out to Collingwood at point, Gough taking his second wicket of the match.

In reply both Lee and McGrath found their targets without any delay and England soon found themselves five wickets down and only 33 on the board. Ponting took a stunning catch at second slip to give McGrath his first (Trescothick) and the very next over saw Strauss making his way back to the safety of the dressing room after he was clean bowled by Brett Lee. When Vaughan played a terrible shot in the sixth over to give McGrath his second in successive overs, alarm bells rang out, rightly so, Australia were fighting back. Vaughan played on and England were 3 for 19.

A debate has been brewing over the possible inclusion of Pietersen at Test level against Australia this summer but when he fell to Lee (Gilchrist) off a good length delivery, the debate silenced somewhat with pundits questioning whether he was quite ready for the longer form of the game. The 10th over saw a little luck that was to prove costly for Australia when Ponting failed to take a difficult chance at slip, Collingwood surviving the scare. However it was all over for Freddie the very next delivery when he edged the ball to Hayden at first slip, England 5 for 33 and McGrath taking his third.

Collingwood and Jones then put on a match saving 116 partnership, a record for the 6th wicket for England. The pace was slow and because of it, set up a very tense finish. Things were edging towards an England victory when Collingwood fell to a terrible decision to take a quick single after he played the ball straight to Symonds at Mid Off., the fielder steaded himself and threw the ball to a waiting Gilchrist who completed the run out. Collingwood walked back to the pavilion after scoring 53, England were now 6 for 149.

Two wickets fell within the space of two runs, both Welshmen back in the pavilion with the score on 162. It was left to Giles and Gough to see out the final overs for England and attempt an unlikely victory with 10 runs required from the 50th over.

Mcgrath began the final over with a no-ball, Gough taking a single, two runs scored. Giles missed the next delivery but took a single off a full toss. Gough then took four runs off the next two deliveries. Three runs required for a win. Mr Metronome then run out Gough after composing himself with a direct hit, it truly was experience that saw him stop and throw, Gough grinning at McGrath after he was left stranded!

The final delivery swung into Giles' pads and the batsmen raced through for two and a most memorable match was tied, all honours even.

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