Hauritz leads Australian charge

The Australian off-spinner, dismissed as a potential threat in the build-up to the start of the npower series after suffering mixed fortunes in the warm-up matches, played a key role in England's slide towards defeat on the final morning.

Hauritz claimed the key scalps of captain Andrew Strauss and wicketkeeper Matt Prior as England lost three wickets for 39 runs and slumped to 102 for five at lunch - still needing a further 137 runs just to avoid an innings defeat.

England suffered a desperate start with influential batsman Kevin Pietersen falling in the fourth over of the morning. Pietersen failed to heed the lesson of a narrow lbw escape and fell when he left a similar delivery and this time it knocked out his off-stump.

Having removed England's most influential player, Australian captain Ricky Ponting turned to the spin of Hauritz, who struck in his second over to remove Strauss's 79-minute stay at the crease.

He had already gone some way towards answering his critics by out-bowling England's two spinners earlier in the match and after Strauss cut him for the first four of the morning, Hauritz struck next ball with a delivery which bounced a little more and the England captain edged behind attempting the same shot.

Matt Prior had one close shave when he edged seamer Peter Siddle through gully for his only boundary, but was completely deceived by Hauritz as he rocked back attempting a late cut, was surprised by the extra bounce and steered the ball to Michael Clarke at slip.

It left Collingwood and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff with the responsibility of surviving the remaining 34 minutes until lunch, which they achieved but they still have a further two sessions to survive if Australia are not going to claim an early Ashes advantage.