The Ashes, Match One, Day Five

Well, this was about as dramatic as things get -- not only in cricket, but in sports.  By 12:36 P.M. British time, England had taken three of the four wickets that they needed for victory.  At that point, the score looked like this:

ENGLAND:  590
AUSTRALIA:  511
INNINGS:  Bottom of the 2d
WICKETS REMAINING:  1

In other words, Australia had to score 80 runs with its last two batsmen.  At this point, England's victory seemed assured.  But the remaining Aussies kept batting, and batting, and batting.  By 1:22 P.M., the score looked like this:

ENGLAND:  590
AUSTRALIA:  563
INNINGS:  Bottom of the 2d
WICKETS REMAINING:  1

At which point the ground was silent with fear.  At 1:33 P.M., the players broke for lunch, with the following score:

ENGLAND:  590
AUSTRALIA:  571
INNINGS:  Bottom of the 2d
WICKETS REMAINING:  1

Finally, at 2:25 P.M., something happened.  I don't really understand cricket terms, but as best as I can tell, the Australian batsman swung at the ball, apparently missed it, and then the ball was caught by someone from England.  The umpire said that the batsman was not out, because he had not hit the ball.  England appealed, and the appeal showed a "hot-spot" on the bat.  Apparently, this indicates that the ball had hit the edge of the bat.  Therefore, the ball was in play.  Therefore, the batsman was out, and England had won the match.  Here was the final score:

ENGLAND:  590
AUSTRALIA:  576

What a spectacular start to this series.

So England lead The Ashes by 1 match to 0.  The next match will take place at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, and will begin on July 18.