CRICKET: Kevin Pietersen produced another stunning display to clinch a dramatic victory for England yesterday and continue Australia's troubled start to their Ashes tour.
Only 24 hours after suffering one of the most humiliating defeats in their history to Bangladesh and having suspended key all-rounder Andrew Symonds for breaching team rules, the world champions bounced back strongly and seemed on course for an improbable victory at Bristol.
But just as they seemed ready to lift the gloom by claiming a timely triumph, Pietersen stepped up with a vicious assault on Australia's highly-regarded attack to complete a three-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare.
Pietersen, man-of-the-series after scoring three centuries against South Africa during the winter, picked up where he left off then by hammering 91 off only 65 balls to snatch an incredible victory from the world champions.
England did not look like matching Australia's respectable total of 252 for nine after a succession of ill-judged shots left them struggling to keep up with the rate.
When Geraint Jones holed out into the deep the hosts had slumped to 160 for six - needing 93 runs off the final 12 overs.
But Jones' dismissal was the signal for Pietersen to launch an astonishing attack. The 24-year-old dominated a 54-run stand off only 30 balls with Vikram Solanki, who was brilliantly run out by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 13, and left England's new hero with the responsibility to guide them home.
The South African-born Hampshire player, man-of-the-match in England's Twenty20 triumph over Australia last Monday, showed supreme confidence to bully the once-dominant world champions - hammering eight fours and four sixes in his swashbuckling innings.
His composure prevented rampant England, confidence lifted by their emphatic triumph at the Rose Bowl, sliding to an unexpected defeat after Australia gave a display which suggested reports of their demise may have been slightly exaggerated.
