3rd NatWest Series ODI: England vs. Australia at Bristol

[Ernest]

Still game on, rain could come into play though.
Flintoff gone having a go.

[John]

Vaughan batting well. England should just about make it 135-4.
Don't know why Flintoff threw his wicket away. He should of called the Australian's bluff and played defensively instead of "showing them what he can do."
It does look what ever happens in this game Ricky Ponting will not be having a restless night sleep tonight worrying about his teams performance. There is a lot he will be please about.

[Victor Frankenstein]

Hogg is bowling very well, england have thrown it away with their poor bowling when they were on top. Australia bowled poorly to start with but once mcgrath yorked tresco it's like they've remembered they're the best team in the world and they're playing like it.

We're still just about in the game, but it's looking less and less likely, we have a lot of places that we can improve on though, especially in the bowling department, add to that we're pretty crap at one dayers for one reason or another, i'm not overly concerned at this point.

[John]

What is clear Pietersen is in the England side for the rest of the summer. He is quickly putting other England players in the shade. Thorpe can whistle for his place he has watched his International career come to end today.
Have the selectors got the balls? Proably not.

[Victor Frankenstein]

no the selectors don't have the balls. Have to say, i've been very impressed with the pace of pieterson's innings, before this i just felt he was a good but lucky slogger, but he's actually been very clever about it and is only taking risks now because of solanki getting out and due to other batsmen failing, makes me think he could easily have a long innings in test cricket too. One innings against them though doesn't confirm anything though, we'll have to wait till the end of the series.

One other thing, if the closeness of this game is any indicator for how close and hard fought the rest of the summer will be between the number 1 and number 2 sides in the world, we're in for a real treat as supporters of both sides.

[John]

Pietersen played a clever innings not slogging. A commentator said "shade of Viv Richards"
Maybe Thorpe will do everybody a favour and retire. Save the selectors an unpopular decision.

[Victor Frankenstein]

could actually depend on giles, if giles isn't fit then they may aswell bring in pieterson as batty is not going to take anymore than pieterson.

and as i type this we win the game! yay!

stealing victory from the jaws of defeat, normally only australia do this, especially to us, very chuffed, australia can feel robbed as they bowled really well for the most part whereas we bowled dross for a large section of their innings, but pieterson has finally been on the winning side of one of his superb innings, cracking stuff

australia - played 2 lost 2 .. blimey, i expect someone made a lot of money on a sweepstake today!

[rineet]

Three cheers to Kevin Pietersen. Once again, this player has proved to be a match-winner.

[Ronan_UK]

No provocations? Ah well, we won that one due to two players, Pieterson and Harmisson. Especially Pieterson, great performance. I was enjoying it when Watson said a few rude words to Pieterson, then got knocked about furthur. Lamer.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by rineet

Three cheers to Kevin Pietersen. Once again, this player has proved to be a match-winner.

Yes he has surprised me, I knew all the reports of his were good, but his temperment when the chips where down-was outstanding.

Originally Posted by RonanUk

I was enjoying it when Watson said a few rude words to Pieterson,

Sledging is part of the game, not confined to Australians, the classic was when Flintoff was sledging Tino Best from LEG SLIP.

Of course it's the cricket that matters, and we had a good game, I hope the rest of this series is as good.

These two victories over Australia, could be in Australia favour, the pressure is shifting, England are fast becoming the side expected to win, not quite but getting that way.

Harmison getting 5-33, and not being MOM, says a lot for Peitersen.

Welcome to the board Ronan.