Australia on brink of victory

England collapsed spectacularly to 82 for five in their second innings to leave Australia on the brink of victory in the fourth Ashes test yesterday.

Marcus North's patient century guided Australia to a commanding total of 445 on the second day and Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson claimed five wickets in 44 balls to leave England's hopes in tatters.

England trail by 261 runs and Australia should wrap up victory and level the series with ease today.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook shared an opening stand of 58 for England but the former was lbw to Hilfenhaus for 32, Ravi Bopara fell first ball and Johnson removed Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and Cook.

Nightwatchman James Anderson was unbeaten on nought at the close with Matt Prior, dropped off the last ball of the day, on four.

North and Michael Clarke compiled a fifth-wicket partnership of 152 in the morning session to turn the screw on England who were bowled out for 102 on Friday and again looked laboured in the field.

Graham Onions trapped Clarke lbw for 93 just before the interval but the batsmen had picked off boundaries at will and experienced few problems against such a lacklustre attack.

North received useful support from the lower order and he reached his third century in six tests with a huge slog sweep for six off spinner Graeme Swann before raising his bat to the balcony and kissing his helmet.

Brad Haddin fell to the second new ball for 14 but Johnson struck a few lusty blows in his 27 and Stuart Clark launched a blistering attack with three sixes in a rapid 32.

He became Stuart Broad's fifth victim, however, and the England seamer had North caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Anderson to complete test-best figures of six for 91.

North batted 326 minutes and hit a six and 13 fours in his second century of the series.