Rain halts Australia's victory charge

Cardiff: Heavy rain has wiped out the evening session on the fourth day of the first Ashes test, denting Australia's chances of victory at Sophia Gardens on Saturday.

Australia had taken complete control of the match after dominating the first two sessions, declaring on 674-6 and reducing England to 20-2, still 219 runs behind, at tea.

However, torrential rain fell Saturday almost as soon as the players went off, boosting the hosts' chances of forcing a draw.

Marcus North (125 not out) and Brad Haddin (121) both struck centuries, giving Australia a lead of 239, before England's Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara were both out lbw in fading light.

Resuming on 479-5, Australia began the morning session brightly, with Haddin hitting three fours from eight balls, all bowled by Stuart Broad.

SCOREBOARD

England first innings: 435 all out

Australia first innings
Phillip Hughes c Prior b Flintoff 36
Simon Katich lbw b Anderson 122
Ricky Ponting b Panesar 150
Mike Hussey c Prior b Anderson 3
Michael Clarke c Prior b Broad 83
Marcus North not out 125
Brad Haddin c Bopara b Collingwood 121
Extras: (9b, 14lb, 4w, 7nb) 34
TOTAL: (for six wickets declared) 674
Overs: 181

Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-299, 3-325, 4-331, 5-474, 6-674.

Bowling: James Anderson 32-6-110-2 (1w), Stuart Broad 32-6-129-1 (2w), Graeme Swann 38-8-131-0, Andrew Flintoff 35-3-128-1 (7nb, 1w), Monty Panesar 35-4-115-1, Paul Collingwood 9-0-38-1.

Did not bat: Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

England second innings
Andrew Strauss not out 6
Alastair Cook lbw Johnson 6
Ravi Bopara lbw Hilfenhaus 1
Kevin Pietersen not out 3
Extras: (1w, 3nb) 4
TOTAL: (for two wickets) 20
Overs: 7

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-17.

Bowling: Mitchell Johnson 4-0-11-1 (1nb, 1w), Ben Hilfenhaus 3-0-9-1 (1nb).

To bat: Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.