Australia batted throughout a rain-interrupted third day of the first Ashes Test against England to take a 44-run first-innings lead over the hosts on Friday. After floodlights had been turned on for the first time in a British Test, Australia reached 479 for five in their first innings in reply to England’s 435. Captain Ricky Ponting led from the front during a sun-baked morning session, reaching 150 before he dragged a Monty Panesar delivery on to his stumps. His deputy Michael Clarke took over with a delightful 83 and Marcus North showed the benefit of his stints with five English counties to mark his Ashes debut with a thoroughly competent 54 not out.

The pair added 143 for the fifth wicket and England will now be batting to save the match after a dispiriting day for their bowlers. James Anderson raised England’s hopes briefly having taken the second new ball 30 minutes into the day after Australia resumed on 249 for one. A late inswinger accounted for Simon Katich (122), who spent more than five hours at the crease and Michael Hussey did not linger, edging Anderson to Matt Prior behind the stumps after scoring three. Ponting, who had reached his 38th Test century on Thursday evening, drove crisply through the covers and hooked an Andrew Flintoff no-ball for six over a leaping Panesar at fine-leg.

Unlucky dismissal

There seemed no obvious reason why he should ever get out until he stepped back to hit Panesar through the off-side and the ball ricocheted off his bat and clattered into the stumps.Three wickets had fallen in the space of 63 balls for 22 runs and with Australia 331 for four, England seemed to be coming back in the game.

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