All to play for in second Test

Cricket:  Matthew Hoggard delivered one of his best England performances to earn a 38-run lead over Australia in the second …

Cricket: Matthew Hoggard delivered one of his best England performances to earn a 38-run lead over Australia in the second Ashes Test.

The seamer claimed seven for 109 on a pitch still favouring the batsmen as Australia were dismissed for 513 by late afternoon on the fourth day.

They were Hoggard's best figures since grabbing seven for 61 to help win the Johannesburg Test against South Africa two years ago and provided a late boost for the tourists after another day trying to make inroads into Australia's batting line-up.

Resuming 239 runs adrift on 312 for five still 40 away from saving the follow on, Australia made slow but steady progress towards England's total with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke sharing a 98-run partnership.

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Clarke, who hit a determined 124 over five hours at the crease, also forged a useful 118-run stand with Shane Warne, before being dismissed by Hoggard's reverse swing.

Gilchrist had fallen for an entertaining 64 off 79 balls, which included eight fours, when he was caught in the deep trying to hit Giles for a second successive boundary.

But England did not enjoy any more success for a further 44 overs as Clarke progressed steadily towards the third Test century of his career to boost his hopes of being retained in Australia's line-up once all-rounder Shane Watson regains his fitness.

It was not until the brink of tea that Hoggard finally struck, trapping Warne leg before as he shuffled across his stumps having defied England for nearly three hours.

Clarke followed five overs later when he pushed Hoggard to Giles at short mid-on and two overs later Stuart Clark lost his leg-stump trying to slog over the top to earn Hoggard his seventh victim.

James Anderson completed Australia's demise five overs later when last man Glenn McGrath edged behind to leave England needing to withstand a nervous final session.