The final day of the opening Test of the series begins under sunny skies in Cardiff and the Australians huddle together on the outfield knowing they are eight wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the Ashes
England's hopes suffer a hammer blow as they get off to the worst possible start, Kevin Pietersen completely misjudging a straight one from Ben Hilfenhaus and losing his off stump in the process
The Australians are jubilant at getting England's prized wicket so early in the day - but a disconsolate Pietersen walks off with yet more question marks surrounding his first Test performance
With Pietersen back in the hutch, the onus falls on captain Andrew Strauss - England desperately need their skipper to bat throughout the day if they are to stand a chance of saving the Test match
But disaster strikes in spinner Nathan Hauritz's second over of the day - Strauss plays a loose cut shot and nicks it behind, where Brad Haddin takes the catch. England are 46-4 and in turmoil
Hauritz - who was under pressure for his place coming into the Test match - can hardly believe his luck at removing Strauss as Australia turn the screw in the Cardiff sunshine
Disaster strikes again as Matt Prior tries to cut Hauritz, but the ball is too close to his body and he can only chop the ball tamely to Michael Clarke, falling for 14. England are 70-5.
Paul Collingwood struggles against Hauritz, but England finally reach the temporary sanctuary of lunch on 102-5, still 137 behind with the weather set fair
Andrew Flintoff keeps Collingwood company as England finally look prepared to make the Aussies work a bit harder for their win - though batting remains tough
Flintoff lasts for almost an hour after lunch, before edging paceman Mitchell Johnson to Ponting at second slip to leave England staring over the precipice on 127-6
Stuart Broad edges through the Australian slip cordon, but gets his head down and hangs about for more than an hour. However, after making a gritty 14, he's trapped lbw by a straight one from Hauritz
Collingwood continues to bat on despite losing partners at the other end, and he brings up a hard-fought half-century from 167 balls, waving his bat in the general direction of the England balcony
The Aussies smell blood and when Graeme Swann comes in, a fired-up Peter Siddle bombards him with bouncer after bouncer, twice hitting Swann before tea, the England man needing treatment on both occasions
But Swann shows guts and character and he toughs it out, providing Collingwood with the support he and England are so desperate for as they edge the score closer to making Australia bat again
England are within 19 of making the Aussies bat again when Swann misjudges a straight one from Hilfenhaus - he tries to pull it, but the ball does not get up, it slaps him on the pad and he is adjudged plumb lbw
Collingwood is joined by James Anderson as the tension reaches critical levels in Cardiff - what a debut Test match for the Welsh capital to have. They have about 18 overs still to survive and Anderson starts well
Collingwood, having batted for just under six hours and faced 245 balls for his 74 runs, is finally dismissed by Siddle as he cuts one to Michael Hussey in the gully, who clings on at the second attempt
After a top-class rearguard innings, the Durham man can barely believe he has lost his wicket so close to seeing England to safety. It is now all down to the last pair, as Monty Panesar joins Anderson at the crease
Panesar and Anderson hang on for 40 minutes, showing brilliant defiance to keep the Aussies at bay. There is some confusion at the end as to how much time or how many overs are still left...
...and finally, to the roars of the capacity Cardiff crowd, it's hand-shaking time as England manage to hold on and secure a thrilling draw to frustrate the Australians, much to captain Ponting's dismay
There are scenes of joy on the pitch and on the England balcony too, as the rest of the team celebrate their Great Escape and the chance to go to Lord's on Thursday with the series still all-square
Anderson (left) and Panesar walk off the pitch with chests puffed out, batting saviours for perhaps the first time in their Test match careers. But England know they will have to do a lot better if they want to regain the Ashes
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