Perth: Mike Hussey produced a sparkling century before Australia's pace bowlers destroyed England's top order to push the hosts to the brink of a series-levelling victory on day three of the third Ashes test in Perth.
The 35-year-old Hussey's composed 116, as his batting partners fell like dominoes, propelled Australia's second innings to 309 and set England a mammoth 391-run chase with two days to play.
England lead the five-test series 1-0 and had hoped to seal the Ashes with a win in Perth but began their chase disastrously by losing five wickets after tea to limp to 81-5.
Paul Collingwood was dismissed for 11 with the last ball before stumps by Ryan Harris, the Englishman nicking an edge to all-rounder Steve Smith, who took a superb low catch in the slips.
Night-watchman James Anderson (0) remained unbeaten at stumps as the last-ball wicket brought raucous cheers from home supporters on a day of brilliant sunshine at the Waca (Western Australian Cricket Association) ground.
England's highest successful fourth innings run chase was the 332 runs they made to beat Australia in Melbourne in 1928 and if they reached 391 in Perth it would be the fifth largest in tests.
Fuller delivery
Pace bowler Harris struck first for the hosts, trapping England opener Alastair Cook lbw for 13 with a quick, fuller delivery before Mitchell Johnson had captain Andrew Strauss caught by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in the slips for 15.
After two days of fruitless toil, Ben Hilfenhaus clinched his first wicket in the test by removing dangerman Kevin Pietersen for three, the South Africa-born batsman nicking to Shane Watson in the slips.
Johnson then picked up his second wicket of the innings when he had Jonathan Trott caught behind for 31, the ball ricocheting off Ponting's hands and popping up for wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to take an easy catch.
While Johnson's six-wickets helped Australia skittle England for 187 to wrest back the initiative on Friday, Hussey's brilliant form as a habitual rescuer of Australia's brittle batting line-up may prove equally telling.
After pulling England quick Tremlett for four to bring up his ton, the 35-year-old celebrated wildly, bolting halfway to the Lillee Marsh stand with arms aloft in celebration.
He earlier resumed on 24 with opener Watson on 61 after guiding Australia to 119-3 at stumps on day two and the pair compiled an unbeaten 113-run stand.
Tremlett broke through again after lunch by dismissing Smith (36) early, the all-rounder gloving a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior, then he trapped Haddin in his crease and had him play onto his stumps for seven.
Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings 268 (M. Johnson 62, M. Hussey 61, B. Haddin 53; J. Anderson 3-61, C. Tremlett 3-63)
England 1st innings 187 (I. Bell 53, A. Strauss 52; M. Johnson 6-38, R. Harris 3-59)
Australia 2nd innings
S. Watson lbw Tremlett 95
P. Hughes c Collingwood b Finn 12
R. Ponting c Prior b Finn 1
M. Clarke b Tremlett 20
M. Hussey c Swann b Tremlett 116
S. Smith c Prior b Tremlett 36
B. Haddin b Tremlett 7
M. Johnson c Bell b Collingwood 1
R. Harris c Bell b Finn 1
P. Siddle c Collingwood b Anderson 8
B. Hilfenhaus not out 0
Extras (6lb 4w 2nb) 12
Total (all out, 86 overs) 309
Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-34, 3-64, 4-177, 5-252, 6-271, 7-276, 8-284, 9-308, 10-309
Bowling: J. Anderson 26-7-65-1 (1w), C. Tremlett 24-4-87-5 (2w, 1nb), S. Finn 21-4-97-3 (1nb), G. Swann 9-0-51-0, P. Collingwood 6-3-3-1 (1w).
England 2nd innings
A. Strauss c Ponting b Johnson 15
A. Cook lbw Harris 13
J.Trott c Haddin b Johnson 31
K. Pietersen c Watson b Hilfenhaus 3
P. Collingwood c Smith b Harris 11
J. Anderson not out 0
Extras (7lb 1nb) 8
Total (for 5 wickets, 27 overs) 81
Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-37, 3-55, 4-81, 5-81
Bowling: B. Hilfenhaus 10-4-16-1, R. Harris 6-1-22-2, M. Johnson 7-1-28-2, P. Siddle 4-1-8-0 (1nb)
