Australia still in the hunt

tags:Sports

London : Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne took vital early wickets to keep Australia's Ashes hopes alive on the final day of the deciding test at The Oval.

England resumed at 34 for one and, at 127 for five at lunch on Monday, leads by 133 runs.

Kevin Pietersen was not out 35 and Paul Collingwood was yet to score.

Warne went to the break with 3-55 from 16 overs, while McGrath had 2-37 off 13 overs.

England captain Michael Vaughan added 26 runs to his overnight score before McGrath had him caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for 45.

With his next delivery, McGrath had Ian Bell caught by Warne at first slip for a first-ball duck and the batsman walked away from this test without scoring.

Kevin Pietersen narrowly avoided providing McGrath with a hat-trick when he just managed to pull his bat and gloves away from the paceman's next delivery, which brushed Pietersen's shoulder and was caught by captain Ricky Ponting in the slips.

Pietersen survived a big chance when he edged a Warne leg-spinner which deflected off Gilchrist's glove and hit slips fielder Matthew Hayden on the leg.

A short time later, Warne found remarkable turn on a leg-spinner that hit Marcus Trescothick on the pads - but his loud appeal for leg-before-wicket was turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen.

Replays suggested the ball hit Trescothick just outside the line of off stump.

Quick single

Pietersen pushed a Warne delivery toward Michael Clarke and set off for a quick single when Clarke threw the ball onto Pietersen's stumps from mid wicket, but the batsman had made his ground.

The South African-born Pietersen was then let off lightly when he was on 15 and England was 93 for three. He hit a Brett Lee delivery straight to first slip Warne, who spilled a simple catch.

From there, Pietersen set about making the Australians pay for their mistakes, moving swiftly to 30.

His run flow was stemmed, however, when Warne trapped England opener Trescothick lbw for 33.

Trescothick's dismissal brought Andrew Flintoff to the crease, but the man who took a five-wicket haul on Sunday to put Australia under immense pressure going into the final day, managed only eight before he was caught and bowled by Warne.

England leads the series 2-1 and needs only a draw to win the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87, while Australia must win the match to level the series and retain the urn.

Pietersen survived a fiery over from Lee immediately before lunch when he was struck on the ribs and then fell backward while trying to avoid being hit on the head.