Pietersen, Trott at crease in rain-hit tour game

England were only able to get in two overs on the final morning of their ill-fated tour match against Australia A before rain again intervened on Saturday. Skipper Alastair Cook (154) and Michael Carberry (153) retired on their first-day scores to enable Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen to get in some valuable batting practice ahead of the Ashes series opener in Brisbane on November 21. But rain again thwarted the tourists and only two overs were bowled in between the showers for England to reach lunch at 328 for two. Pietersen, having his first hit on the tour, was not out eight with Trott on two. Two entire days' play have been lost to rain so far and the Hobart forecast was for clearing showers in the afternoon as England set about making up for lost time. England have a final warmup game against a NSW invitational XI in Sydney, starting on Wednesday, ahead of the Ashes series opener against Australia. Source: AFP