They Did It!

Things looked bad in the morning when some of England's best batters fell to the superior bowling of Australia's Shane Warne, but England's lesser lights came through to save the match. In true cricketing style Warne congratulated Pietersen, the author of his team's defeat: "When Pietersen was finally dismissed, Warne ran over to him to shake his hand as he headed for the pavilion in the evening shadows." Here's what CNN reports:

WORLD SPORT
England take Ashes after Oval draw

Monday, September 12, 2005; Posted: 1:50 p.m. EDT (17:50 GMT)


Photo caption: Pietersen's superb innings was the benchmark for England's Ashes win

extracts:

LONDON, England -- Kevin Pietersen scored an outrageous maiden Test century at The Oval to seal England's first Ashes triumph for almost two decades.

Six runs ahead after the first innings and resuming their second on 34 for one, England recovered from a top-order collapse to bat out almost the entire day before being dismissed for 335.

The world champions, who had been hoping to set up a run chase in the final session, were left to face less than an over from Steve Harmison, getting to four without loss before accepting both the light and their historic defeat.

The South Africa-born Pietersen ...faced 187 balls and batted for four and three-quarter hours, helping to put on 60 for the sixth wicket with Paul Collingwood and 109 for the seventh with Ashley Giles.

In his last Test in England and one day short of his 36th birthday, Shane Warne produced a mammoth, exhausting performance to take six wickets for 124 to go with his six for 122 in the first innings, but did not get enough support from his team mates.

England last won the Ashes in 1986-87 - Australia winning a record eight series in a row since.

This photo shows some of Australia's outstanding fielding

Photo caption: Paul Collingwood and Pietersen put on 60 before Ponting takes a diving catch off Warne to dismiss Collingwood for 10.




Photo caption: Pietersen survives three dropped catches on the way to a massive 158 - England are in the hunt on 221-7 at tea.