Bristol goes KP Nuts! by guest writer Craig Nicholson

Bristol, 19th June - Kevin Pietersen’s incredible innings at the County Ground, Bristol on Sunday piled on the misery for Australia. His mammoth knock of 91 not out from just 65 balls guided England home with fifteen balls to spare. With defeats at the hands of Somerset and Bangladesh already on tour, as well as the Twenty20 defeat to England it seems it can’t get any worse for the tourists. Match Scorecard

Still reeling from their unthinkable defeat to Bangladesh yesterday the Australians arrived late at the ground. With Andrew Symonds still suspended, the only Aussie change saw Simon Katich replaced by Shane Watson. On the warmest day of the year so far Australia won the toss and, as they had the previous day, chose to bat first. Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden got the visitors off to an impressive start as they took to Gloucestershire’s own Jon Lewis in the early overs. Darren Gough was his usual economical self but it was Steve Harmison who struck the first blow as he replaced the expensive Lewis. His first victim was Adam Gilchrist who was caught behind for 26. This seemed to trigger panic in the Australian camp, as had been seen in the Twenty20 match, with skipper Ricky Ponting dismissed with the very next ball. He was out plum lbw in the same fashion as the day before and the 15,000 spectators were rocking. Damien Martyn managed to deny Harmison his hat-trick but lasted just two balls. He slashed hopelessly at a wider delivery and found a grateful Kevin Pietersen down at third man. His joy was clear to see and it wouldn’t be his last contribution of the day.

The Aussies had barely recovered from the shock of losing three wickets for no runs when Matty Hayden was next to go. His vicious cut was sensationally plucked from the air at point by Paul Collingwood, with arguably one of the great catches of all time. The look on Hayden’s face showed disbelief as the Durham pair combined to give Harmison his fourth wicket. It was left to Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey to pick up the pieces and they did so in some style. Their terrific partnership of 105 not only dug the Aussies out of deep bother but put them on the road to a very competitive score. Hussey is an ex-Gloucestershire man, as Worcestershire fans will no doubt remember, and he showed his class on his old stomping ground. With no Ashley Giles to call on England skipper Michael Vaughan used Paul Collingwood, Vikram Solanki and indeed himself to try to keep this pair at bay in the middle overs. Paul Collingwood gave his Durham team-mate Hussey a reprieve, dropping a far easier chance than his earlier wonder catch.

The partnership, though, was finally broken as Clarke edged onto his own stumps to give Jon Lewis a wicket in front of his home faithful. This by no means took the wind out of Australia’s sails as Hussey and Shane Watson made a fifty partnership of their own, as they took their side towards a very competitive total. They couldn’t capitalise, though, in the final overs as Hussey and Clarke were done by slower balls from Harmison and Flintoff respectively. Brad Hogg (10*) and Jason Gillespie (14) made useful contributions as Australia reached 252-9 from their allotted 50 overs.

Australia’s bowling attack was called into question by Bangladesh and Jason Gillespie made the worst possible start. Glenn McGrath bowled a tight first over but Gillespie then bowled an eleven-ball over including four led-side wides. However, his partner was on top form and he soon dismissed the two left-handers, Trescothick and Strauss in quick succession. The Somerset opener was clean bowled by a beautiful yorker before the Middlesex man clipped onto his own stumps. At 42-2 the game was finely balanced as Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood came together for England. They were restricted by the Australian bowling attack and after making 14 from twice as many balls, Collingwood was clean bowled by Mike Kasprowicz who had been expensive. Sheffield Wednesday fan Vaughan looked to nudge the ball around as he was joined by Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff. However, it wasn’t to be his day as he was caught at deep mid-off for just nineteen. Brad Hogg, who had dismissed Flintoff, struck again as he had Vaughan adjudged lbw for a battling 57. It went from bad to worse for England as Hogg’s third victim, Geraint Jones, made just two before he was caught by Damien Martyn with a wasteful slog; similar to Flintoff’s demise.

At 160-6 an England of years gone by would have lay down and died. But this England has a new hero. Kevin Pietersen. He showed in South Africa what he can do with three centuries in ODIs and was keen to prove himself against the best in the world. At first he looked to play himself, partnered by the highly capable Vikram Solanki who came in at the ridiculous position of number eight. But with the required run rate climbing Pietersen began to free his arms with some huge hits taking the partnership over the fifty mark. However, it looked as though the game had swung in Australia’s favour as Vikram Solanki was brilliantly run out by Adam Gilchrist for a priceless thirteen. With England still needing 39 runs to win it was all down to Pietersen. And my how he responded. Bad balls and good balls disappeared to all parts with Kasprowicz going for 18 runs in an amazing over. The 47th over was the defining moment as Pietersen smashed a six and a four over mid-wicket leaving a bemused Jason Gillespie wondering what on earth he could have done. It was fitting, however, that local boy Jon Lewis should hit the winning run as he finished on seven not out. It was all about one man, though, as Kevin Pietersen finished on an astonishing 91 not out from 65 balls including eight fours and four sixes.

It was an improved performance with doubt from the tourists but one man literally snatched victory from the jaws of the defeat. But we all know it would be foolish to write the Australians off at our peril.

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