England v Australia, 3rd Investec Test, Old Trafford, 4th day

Australia strive to set England target

Tea Australia 527 for 7 and 137 for 5 (Clarke 14*, Haddin 0*) lead England 368 (Pietersen 113, Cook 62, Bell 60, Siddle 4-63, Starc 3-76) by 296 runs

Keeping an eye on ominous clouds encircling Old Trafford, Australia stretched their lead over England while losing wickets on the fourth afternoon of the third Ashes Test. Steven Smith had just been run out when an early tea was taken due to the first shower of the day, the visitors 296 runs ahead after batting with aggression and the occasional brain fade as England sought to delay their progress in concert with the weather.

Australia's captain Michael Clarke was at the crease in the company of Brad Haddin and their coach Darren Lehmann will be aware that no side has chased more than 294 to win in the fourth innings in Manchester. The hosts had reduced Australia's chances of forcing the victory they need to keep the Ashes series alive with doughty lower order batting on the fourth morning.

Matt Prior and Stuart Broad put together a critical stand of 58 that averted the follow-on, before the last man James Anderson aided England's wicketkeeper in another pesky union that pared back the tourists' first-innings advantage to 159.

A series of cameos by Chris Rogers, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Shane Watson and Smith kept Australia's runs ticking over, though a wicket fell every time they threatened to go from a canter to a charge. Watson's absence at the top of the order reflected his lack of batting confidence in the first innings, but also allowed Warner the chance to make a decent contribution to the match after his brief and less than illustrious visit to the middle on the second day.

Rogers appeared fluent again but sacrificed his wicket to an attempted ODI dab towards third man, resulting only in an edge off Broad, well held by Prior. Warner played with good sense after lunch, finding gaps on the off side and behind square leg, though England felt they had him snicking a Broad bouncer behind. A referral was used, but amid scant evidence to overturn the original decision Warner stayed, leading to a petulant reaction by Alastair Cook's men.

Eventually Warner would fall, hooking into the hands of his Birmingham Walkabout target Joe Root at deep square leg. Khawaja played neatly until being bowled around his legs by a Swann delivery that drifted and spun, Watson made his usual start before upper cutting to third man, and Smith unfurled a pair of handsome lofted straight drives before falling victim to a run-out as Clarke forgot to run the first one hard.

Broad and Prior had resumed with a simple goal - avoid the follow-on and then let a bleak weather forecast conspire with them to thwart Australia. Michael Clarke opened up with a weary-looking Ryan Harris, his usual vim sapped by the previous day. Prior and Broad seemed wise to this and attacked, while at the other end Broad kept Nathan Lyon out.

Runs accrued quickly, to a combination of decent shots and fortunate edges, the vacant third slip region getting particular attention. Australia's lead was quickly diminished, and with a slashing Broad drive off Harris the follow-on was saved. Now sensing his primary task had been achieved, Broad had no qualms about turning on his heels to the pavilion after Lyon procured the thinnest of edges through to Brad Haddin.

Prior continued to attack and was dropped at shortish midwicket by a lunging Steve Smith from Lyon. Graeme Swann did not last long, also walking after doing well to inside edge a searing delivery in Siddle's first over of the morning, but Prior and Anderson then did their best to prolong England's innings and thus reduce the time available for Australia to force a result.

This resulted in some curious shot choices and equally odd field settings, the crowd growing restless as Prior farmed the strike and Anderson looked safe enough against the few deliveries he did have to face. Drinks arrived after 67 runs had been added for the loss of two wickets - a ledger most favourable to England. Prior did not last too much longer, skying Siddle to hand him a deserved fourth wicket.