Harmison seals two-run win in second Ashes test

Shane Warne and Australia's tail-enders gave England a massive fright before Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison led the home side to a dramatic two-run victory in the second Ashes test yesterday.

It was the closest winning margin in Ashes history and left the five-match series level at 1-1.

The last three batsmen put on 104 before Michael Kasprowicz gloved Harmison behind. Earlier Warne had made 42. Flintoff took four for 79.

Australia, chasing 282 to win, resumed the fourth day at Edgbaston 175 for eight, with Warne on 20, Brett Lee yet to face a ball and with apparently no chance of scoring the 107 runs needed for an unlikely win.

However, Warne and Lee, living dangerously but refusing to be cowed by some viciously fast bowling from Harmison and Flintoff, put on 45 off 56 balls.

When Warne trod on his wicket, 62 were still needed from the last-wicket pair but Lee and Kasprowicz somehow survived a barrage of short-pitched bowling to edge closer to the target, sparking pandemonium from a packed Edgbaston crowd.

With 15 still needed, Simon Jones dropped a Kasprowicz upper-cut off Flintoff at third man to apparently seal England's fate.

The third test starts at Old Trafford on Thursday.