Cricket-England

Cricket-England

       England, inspired by Kevin Pietersen's brilliant 62, narrowly missed out on a dramatic victory as the fifth Ashes test ended in a draw on an enthralling final day at The Oval on Sunday.

Captain Michael Clarke had declared Australia's second innings on 111 for six and set England a challenging target in a bid to force a consolation victory but it was the hosts who went close to sealing their first 4-0 win in a home Ashes series.

"We wanted to entertain," Pietersen

"We lost a day's play and we like to entertain. I was in my own bubble - I was just trying to get through stages. I had flashbacks of 2005 but the way we played today puts us in good stead for the winter."

Joe Root, on 11, edged Harris to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin before Cook and Jonathan Trott shared a fluent second-wicket partnership of 64 to lay a solid platform.

The tall right-hander struck his first boundary off his fourth ball and immediately injected urgency into the run chase, creaming Peter Siddle through the covers for four and flicking him to fine leg for another.

With the crowd sensing a famous victory, Trott also passed 50 before Pietersen fell with the score on 163, well caught by David Warner running round the long-on boundary off Harris.

Trott was snared lbw by Faulkner for 59 but Ian Bell and Chris Woakes kept the momentum going and England needed 36 from the last six overs.