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| Pietersen watches the inevitable after edging his sweep into the air [GALLO/GETTY] |
The supposedly soft centre of England's batting lineup provided stiff resistance after the vanguard rescue party of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood fell in quick succession after tea - before Australia struck late on to take the upper hand on the first day of the Ashes.
With two spinners in their side and Andrew Flintoff struggling for form with the bat, England were looking in trouble at lunch after the early wickets of Alastair Cook, captain Andrew Strauss and Ravi Bopara.
But as Australia attempted to turn the screw, Pietersen and Collingwood rallied to weigh in with a half-century each before tea in a wicketless second session in Cardiff.
Collingwood then went to a superb catch from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin off Ben Hilfenhaus for 64 before Pietersen dollied a languid Nathan Hauritz delivery to Simon Katich at short leg from way outside off stump, trudging back to the pavillion on 69.
Flintoff fire
Matt Prior and Flintoff then provided a mix of flint and fire to stave off the Aussie resurgence before Flintoff's belligerent 37 ended when he played onto his own stumps off the bowling of Peter Siddle.
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A Strauss c Clarke b Johnson 30
A Cook c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 10
R Bopara c Hughes b Johnson 35
K Pietersen c Katich b Hauritz 69
P Collingwood c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 64
M Prior b Siddle 56
A Flintoff b Siddle 37
J Anderson not out 2
S Broad not out 4
Extras 29
Total (7 wickets, 90 overs) 336
FOW: 1-21 2-67 3-90 4-228 5-241 6-327 7-329
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And Prior soon followed, again playing Siddle onto his stumps and departing for a worthy 56 off 62 balls.
Bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were at the crease at the close on Wednesday, with England on 336-7.
"If you look at the previous two series, the way we started on day one, 336-7 we definitely take," Pietersen told Sky Sports.
"Being greedy we would say five down but on a wicket that's turning and with two spinners (in our side), I'd take that."
Lunchtime stew
The hosts had made a solid start in Cardiff after winning the toss before some inventive bowling from Australia had them stewing in the pavillion at lunch on 97-3.
Cook became the first casualty of the series when, on 10, he prodded at a wideish Hilfenhaus delivery on the off side and Mike Hussey dived to his right for a smart catch in the gulley.
Twenty one runs for the first wicket not an ideal scenario for England, but Bopara weathered some early chin music to help Strauss steady the ship.
But England were again in choppy waters as Strauss tried to fend off a Mitchell Johnson bouncer, only for it to hit his gloves, fly over his head and land in the waiting hands of Michael Clarke.
Strauss departed on 30 with England on 67-2 as Pietersen marched to the crease.
Daring
The former captain challenged Australia with some daring running between the wickets but Bopara then fell for 35 as he dollied up a catch for Phillip Hughes off a slower ball from Johnson with the score at 90-3.
England rallied after lunch Pietersen and Collingwood shared a century partnership to peg back the Australian attack.
Both struck their fifties minutes before tea to leave the hosts on 194-3, the 97 runs after lunch exactly mirroring the morning total.
England found the best value after tea, with 142 runs for the loss of four wickets.
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