BIRMINGHAM, England, 8 August 2005 — England beat Australia by just two runs to win the second Ashes Test on the fourth day at Edgbaston here yesterday. England’s victory, the closest in Ashes history, was achieved with more than a day to spare, and saw them level the five-Test series at 1-1 after their 239-run defeat at Lord’s last month. Australia resumed yesterday on 175 for eight, still needing a further 107 runs to win.
But their last two wickets added 104 to take them within sight of a famous victory.
Brett Lee, who top scored with 43 not out, almost saw Australia home after stands of 56 for the ninth wicket with Shane Warne (42) and 59 for the tenth with Michael Kasprowicz 20.
England, who had dominated most of a game they so nearly lost, won through when Kasprowicz gloved a Harmison delivery down the legside and was caught by by wicket-keeper Geraint Jones.
Earlier Warne and Brett Lee launched a superb rearguard action lasting 56 balls with both batsmen scoring well-struck boundaries.
But after Warne trod on his stumps against all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, Australia still needed 62 runs to win. Then Simon Jones at third man dropped last man Kasprowicz on 18 off Flintoff with 15 runs needed.
Shane Warne was 20 not out and Lee yet to face when play began yesterday after Michael Clarke had his stumps knocked over by fast bowler Stephen Harmison off the last ball of Saturday’s play. Both Warne and Lee gave England several anxious moments with some well-struck boundaries before Warne, walking across his stumps on 42, trod on his own wicket with his back foot while facing man-of-the-match Flintoff.
The Lancashire all-rounder, who took four for 79, produced a magnificent display that was vital to England’s first Test victory against Australia with the Ashes still up for grabs since their win at Edgbaston eight years ago in the 1997 series opener.
After scoring 68 in England’s first innings 407 and then taking three for 52 in Australia’s reply of 308, Flintoff starred in dramatic style with both bat and ball on Saturday.
First he struck a whirlwind 73 off just 86 balls with four sixes (he hit nine in the match) and six fours in a total of 182 where no other batsman scored more than 21 although Simon Jones (12 not out) played his part in a valuable last-wicket stand of 51 in just 49 balls.
