England dig in

Captain Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook occupied the crease for just over an hour to progress to 45 without loss after Australia opened up a 343-run lead on first innings in the penultimate match of the npower series.

England's hopes of preserving their 1-0 lead were reduced significantly by Marcus North's second hundred of the campaign and 93 from Michael Clarke, whose overall tally now stands at 445.

But the opening pair left the ball much better in their second innings after a succession of nicks spiralled them to 102 all out first time round.

All-rounder Stuart Broad returned Test-best figures of six for 91 on the second day after claiming the final four wickets to fall.

Clarke fell narrowly short of a third hundred in this summer's battles between the sides.

It took a fourth lbw decision of the innings for England to remove him when Graham Onions produced a late inswinger to strike pad in front of middle stump.

Onions, whose ability to unseat batsmen when set has been a feature of the series, tailed one in to beat inside edge and strike the pad.

North hit the ball powerfully thereafter and got to his third Test ton in great style when he slog-swept Swann for six.

His ninth-wicket partner Stuart Clark then seized on the mood with some monstrous hits of his own - three times he cleared the rope in an innings of 32 from 22 balls. Two of them were pulled into the stand at midwicket off Broad, who nevertheless had the last laugh by bowling him in between having Mitchell Johnson and North caught in the deep.