(CNN) -- England's star batsman Kevin Pietersen struck a vital late blow with his part-time bowling to leave Australia battling to save the second Ashes cricket Test in Adelaide.
Pietersen dismissed Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke with the final ball of Monday's closing session to leave England in a commanding position with a day's play remaining.
Pietersen had earlier hit a Test-best score of 227 with the bat as England declared on 620-5, then the hosts reached 238-4 at stumps in their second innings -- still 137 runs short of making the tourists bat again.
Clarke had ominously returned to form with 80 as he added 104 for the fourth wicket with Mike Hussey before edging a delivery from Pietersen onto his pad and into the hands of Alastair Cook.
He was initially given not out by the umpire, but England referred the decision to the video official -- and replays showed that the batsman had clearly hit the ball. CNN
