England edge closer to Adelaide Test win

ADELAIDE - Kevin Pietersen claimed a key wicket with the last ball of day four following his earlier heroics with the bat to give England real encouragement in their pursuit of victory in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Pietersen, who scored a career-best Test score of 227 to help England reach 620-5 declared, struck with his occasional spin to dismiss Michael Clarke for 80.

Australia ended day four on 238-4, still trailing by 137 runs with six wickets in hand.

Mike Hussey was the unbeaten on 44.

The fourth-wicket pair had given Australia, set 375 to make England bat again, hope of forcing a draw, but the dismissal of Clarke gives the tourists added impetus heading into the final day of the match, The Telegraph reports.

Clarke and Hussey added 104 before Pietersen had the final word.

Earlier, in the day, Australian opening batsmen Simon Katich (43) and Shane Watson (57) made a hectic beginning to their reply, before Katich eventually edged an off break from Graeme Swann.

Shortly after Ricky Ponting (nine) was undone by an arm ball, brilliantly held by Paul Collingwood low at slip.

Watson too perished soon, as he was caught by Strauss in first slip off Steve Finn.

The lead of 375 is the largest achieved by any touring side since England crushed Australia in the sixth Test of 1974-75.

Brief Scorecard:

Australia:- Ist Innings: 245econd innings: 238-4 (Clarke 80, Watson 57)

England:- Ist Innings: 620-5 declared (Pietersen 227, Cook 148) (ANI)