England pray for rain as Australia sniff Ashes win

Perth (Reuters): Australia moved within six wickets of reclaiming the Ashes at the close of a rain-hit day four of the third Ashes test on Sunday, with England still 127 runs short of making the hosts bat again.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates with team mates after bowling England’s James Vince during the fourth day of the third Ashes cricket test match - REUTERS

The tourists were 132 for four when a rain-shower brought stumps an hour early at the WACA, with Dawid Malan (28 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (14) tasked with an improbable rescue mission following their defiant 237-run stand in the first innings.

Australia had declared at 662 for nine after lunch, their highest ever Ashes total at home, with captain Steve Smith finally dismissed for 239 from 399 balls.

Trailing 2-0, England must cobble a draw to keep the five-test series alive to Melbourne and their hopes may rest on the weather, with more showers forecast on day five.

Alastair Cook’s miserable series continued as he threw away his wicket for 14, having managed only seven in the first innings of his 150th test.

Joe Root, his successor as captain, was equally culpable in his own 14, with opener Mark Stoneman out for three, as England staggered to 60 for three.

Australia’s captain Steve Smith celebrates with team mates after taking a catch to dismiss England’s captain Joe Root during the fourth day of the third Ashes cricket test match - REUTERS

England’s ‘Barmy Army’ danced in the terraces as rain brought tea five minutes early and again when it returned midway through the final session to see play abandoned.

Vince and first innings centurion Malan dug in for 40 runs before the pitch claimed the number three.

Bairstow and Malan added another 32 in a watchful stand to survive until the rain fell.

Australia’s pacemen stuck to their task but the match is likely to be remembered for their captain’s batting masterclass which yielded a second double-century against the same foes.

He was finally dismissed leg before by paceman James Anderson (4-116) in the morning.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was also trapped lbw by the veteran quick without adding to his overnight 181.

Australia lost three wickets for 12 runs in the mini-collapse but wicketkeeper Tim Paine (49 not out) and Pat Cummins (41) steadied the home side with a 93-run stand.