With Headley and Stewart making early exits today in-form batsmen, Nasser Hussain and Mark Ramprakash set about rebuilding the innings.

They did so with a partnership of 49 and then Matthew Nicholson produced a sizzling off-cutter to clip Ramprakash's off bail.

Graeme Hick's exit after making a half-century brought Allan Mullally to the crease and this produced one of those confrontations that make Test cricket exciting. Mullally and McGrath have their own personal feud and the Australian's goading, sparked the laid back Englishman in to action. This mini-war was pivotal as Mullally smacked a couple of powerful boundaries in adding 23 valuable runs and then bowled with much more fire when Australia chased the meagretarget of 175.

Australia set off quickly, but Michael Slater missed one that stayed down and was lbw and then Taylor holed out at fine-leg, succumbing to a Mullally short-pitched delivery. Ramprakash took a brilliant catch to get rid of Langer and inspire his teammates. Headley returned and suddenly wickets began to tumble and finally the renowned Bulldog spirit made an appearance on tour.

Four wickets went down and Headley had his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Steve Waugh found an ally in Nicholson. The 7:19 (local time) closing time came and Waugh claimed the extra half-hour while Stewart protested, his bowlers and fieldsmen already tortured by a three and a half-hour session. Somehow Headley dragged up another effort and with it came a miracle Nicholson out. At the other end Waugh took the single but Gough yorked the tailender and finished the match by finding McGrath in front.

England achieved success by virtually half the value of the last wicket stand that Mullally had starred in. Themoral of the game never disturb a dozing Bulldog.

SCOREBOARD

England (first innings): 270

Australia (first innings): 340

England (second innings): Mike Atherton b Fleming 0, Alec Stewart c Slater b Macgill 52, Mark Butcher c Slater b Macgill 14, Dean Headley b McGrath 1, Nasser Hussain c Slater b Nicholson 50, Mark Ramprakash b Nicholson 14, Graeme Hick b Fleming 60, W Hegg c Macgill b Nicholson 9, Darren Gough c Slater b Macgill 4, Angus Fraser not out 7, Allan Mullally c&b McGrath 16; Extras (lb4, b2, nb11): 17. Total (in 80.2 overs): 244

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-61, 3-66, 4-78, 5-127, 6-178, 7-202, 8-221 9-221.

Bowling: McGrath 20.2-5-56-2, Fleming 17-4-45-2, Nicholson 15-4-56-3, Macgill 27-3-81-3, M Waugh 1-1-0-0.

Australia (second innings): Michael Slater lbw Headley 18, Mark Taylor c Headley b Mullally 19, Justin Langer c Ramprakash b Mullally 30, Mark Waugh c Hick b Headley 43, Steve Waugh not out 30, Darren Lehmann c Hegg b Headley 4, Ian Healy c Hick bHeadley 0, Damien Fleming lbw Headley 0, M Nicholson c Hegg b Headley 9, Stuart Macgill b Gough 0, Glen McGrath lbw Gough 0; Extras (b4, lb1, nb4): 9. Total (all out, 46.4 overs): 162

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-41, 3-103, 4-130, 5-140, 6-140, 7-140, 8-161, 9-162.

Bowling: Gough 15.4-2-54-2, Headley 17-5-60-6, Mullally 10-4-20-2, Fraser 4-0-23-0.

Result: England won by 12 runs.

Australia leads series 2-1.