Clarke and North, however, ensured there were no further alarms for the Australians by seeing through the afternoon session. North got off the mark with a deft on-drive for four and Clarke played a series of delightful drives and the shot of the day when he used his feet to loft Panesar over long-off for six. Panesar got the occasional delivery to turn but Graeme Swann, who has superseded the left-armer as England’s number one spinner, was ineffective.

Clarke leaned back to pull Flintoff through mid-wicket for four to bring up the 100-run partnership and the teams went to tea with Australia 463 for four. The sky darkened during the break and steady rain drove the players off the field 12 minutes into the final session. After play resumed under the lights Stuart Broad took his first wicket of the innings when Clarke edged an attempted hook to give wicketkeeper Matt Prior his third catch. But after half an hour the umpires consulted again and the players left the field for the final time.

SCOREBOARD

England vs Australia, Cardiff, Day Three

England (first innings) 435

Australia (first innings) (overnight 249/1)

P Hughes c Prior b Flintoff 36

S Katich lbw b Anderson 122

R Ponting b Panesar 150

M Hussey c Prior b Anderson 3

M Clarke c Prior b Broad 83

M North not out 54

B Haddin not out 4

... contd.