Cook unbeaten as England maintain edge

England finished day two of the fifth Test in a strong position despite the late wicket of Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen hooked Mitchell Johnson straight to Michael Beer but the dependable Alastair Cook and nightwatchman James Anderson guided England to 167 for three at the close in reply to Australia's 280 all out.

Cook finished the day unbeaten on 61 but earlier thought he was out on 46, lofting a catch to mid-on off Michael Beer.

But umpire Billy Bowden checked with the TV official as he suspected a possible no-ball, and to the disbelief of Aussie fans Cook was reprieved.

Cook's escape allowed him to become the second youngest batsman, behind Sachin Tendulkar, to notch 5,000 Test runs. And his total for the Ashes series, currently at 638, is already five runs more than Michael Vaughan's 2002-03 aggregate.

That Australia got close to 300 was only thanks to some late-order hitting from Johnson (54) and Ben Hilfenhaus (34). England's James Anderson was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-66.

The tourists must merely avoid defeat here to become the first England team to win an Ashes series in Australia since 1986/87.