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LIVE: England v Australia, 4th Investec Test, Day 4

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England struck twice after tea on day four of the fourth Investec Ashes Test to check Australia's confident progress towards a victory target of 299 at the Emirates Durham ICG.

Having removed Chris Rogers to break up an opening stand worth 109 before the interval, Graeme Swann trapped Usman Khawaja lbw.

Tim Bresnan was brought into the attack shortly afterwards and saw a lifting delivery take David Warner's outside edge to leave Australia 168 for three.

Warner compiled an attractive 71 from 113 deliveries, including a glorious six over extra cover off Swann, to lend real impetus to the tourists' chase.

Earlier, Ryan Harris claimed four further wickets in the morning session to end with a career-best 7-117 as England were eventually bowled out for 330.

Despite the fall of overnight centurion Ian Bell for 113, cameos of 45 and 30 not out respectively from Bresnan and Swann gave England runs on the board that could prove incredibly valuable when this match reaches its conclusion.

Match Scorecard

Live ball-by-ball commentary

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Evening Session

5:49pm - England fans will not need reminding that Clarke and new man Steven Smith combined in a huge partnership at Old Trafford last week. Stuart Broad replaces Anderson and starts with a yorker that Clarke digs out well.

5:45pm WICKET! Warner c Prior b Bresnan 71; Australia 168/3 - The change from England skipper Alastair Cook proves to be an inspired one. Bresnan draws Warner forward and a little extra lift catches the outside edge, leaving Matt Prior to pouch a regulation chance and end a fine innings.

Australia 2nd Innings 

5:42pm - Width for Clarke from Anderson and with little to no evidence of swing around the batsman clouts to the extra-cover boundary. Four more follow courtesy of an authoritative straight drive before a low edge through first slip brings three. Australia are 167 for two and Tim Bresnan replaces Swann.

5:36pm - Having left a ball from Swann that narrowly missed his off-stump, Warner clips confidently through midwicket for three and moves to 71.

5:26pm - WICKET! Khawaja lbw b Swann 21; Australia 147/2 - Well he was up and running! Khawaja misses a full delivery from Swann and does not hang around to review. In comes Australia's captain Michael Clarke. If England can grab another wicket quickly the pendulum will start to swing once more in this enthralling Test match.

5:24pm - Khawaja is up and running. Having worked Anderson to the boundary backward of point in the seamer's previous, he capitalises on a short delivery by unfurling his favourite pull stroke for four more. A little more fortuitously he edges through the cordon to move to 21. Australia are 147 for one after 39 overs and almost halfway there.

5:14pm - Warner rocks back and cuts Swann to the midwicket fence. He really does look in superb order and England could do with seeing the back of him sooner rather than later.

5:07pm - We're back under way after tea and so is David Warner, who works Graeme Swann through the off-side to pick up three before the off-spinner beats Usman Khawaja's outside edge. James Anderson returns to the attack and we have 30 overs available tonight.

Afternoon Session

4:45pm - TEA! - Australia 120/1; Warner 57, Khawaja 6 - Swann sends down another long-hop, although this one does not precede a wicket; his full toss is smacked down the ground by Khawaja. Time for a break.

4:31pm - WICKET! Rogers c Trott b Swann 49; Australia 109/1 - Oh boy, England needed that. The ball after seeing a long-hop pulled to the midwicket rope, Swann finds Rogers - playing back - and Jonathan Trott takes a difficult, low catch at first slip.

4:29pm - FIFTY! Warner (74b 8x4 1x6) - What a way to bring up a fine half-century; Warner rocks back and guides Bresnan just wide of point for four.

4:19pm - Swann is getting into his work now, causing Warner - in particular - some problems. England need a breakthrough.

4:03pm - There's nothing happening for England at the moment. Swann's fourth over goes for nine as both batsmen strike off-side fours.

4pm - Things have calmed down a touch but these two continue to score at four an over without much trouble.

3:42pm - Warner responds with a glorious, inside-out drive over cover for six and, in the off-spinner's next over, Rogers crunches to the point boundary.

3:33pm - With runs coming freely for the tourists, England turn - see what I did there? - to Graeme Swann.

3:20pm - Runs are coming relatively freely here, Warner clipping through midwicket and cutting off Anderson before Rogers, having been beaten a couple of times, nicks one through the cordon with soft hands.

3:11pm - MISSED CHANCE! - Warner unfurls another crisp shot when cutting Anderson through point and, in the next over, Graeme Swann shells a diving, one-handed chance after Tim Bresnan finds Rogers' edge. It was a tough one but there is plenty happening.

3:03pm - REVIEW! - The Decision Review System worked for Rogers in the first innings, and it has again. James Anderson beats the edge with a beauty and umpire Tony Hill raises the finger. However, replays show the ball clipped his thigh pad rather than bat.

3:02pm - Australia are looking to be positive, Warner finding his first boundary via a back-foot punch off Broad. Rogers then adds another four later in the over, confidently driving down the ground.

2:52pm - Stuart Broad immediately makes it talk, beating Rogers' edge before finding extra bounce to take the glove and see the ball fall just safe.

2:47pm - Here we go then. Chris Rogers and David Warner are back in the middle, tasked with taking the shine off the all-important new ball.

2:19pm - The rain has stopped, the umpires are inspecting conditions and the outer covers are being removed.

2:07pm - Ah, and the rain returns. It's fairly heavy, too. This could turn out to be a frustrating day.

1:56pm - The rain has now stopped, but the radar suggests there will be more downpours passing over later in the day. There will be an inspection in 14 minutes.

1:43pm - I am afraid the heavens have opened at the Emirates Durham ICG. The forecast suggests we're set for a lengthy delay. 

Morning Session

Watch highlights of the opening session of day four from the Emirates Durham ICG

1:01pm - LUNCH! Australia 11/0 chasing 299; Rogers 5, Warner 2 - Part one achieved for the tourists. Rogers and David Warner reach the interval unscathed. Join us again in 40 minutes for what should be a cracking session in the north-east.

12:51pm - REVIEW! - Australia get a first boundary as Stuart Broad's wide delivery goes for four byes. In the next over, Anderson raps Chris Rogers on the pad and England unsuccessfully review with the ball pitching outside leg stump.

12:45pm - This is a crucial little period for Australia, who need to avoid losing a wicket. The first over, from James Anderson, passes without incident.

England 2nd Innings

12:31pm - WICKET! Anderson c Haddin b Lyon 0 - England 330 all out; Australia require 299 to win - Well, that's that then. After Swann edges Harris over slip for four, James Anderson feathers Nathan Lyon behind.

12:29pm - MISSED CHANCE! - How frustrating for Australia. Swann skies an attempted big shot and Steven Smith, usually an outstanding fielder, shells a simple chance at long-on. The batsman responds by driving successive fours through and over cover off Harris in the next over!

12:23pm - WICKET! Bresnan c & b Harris 45; England 317/9 - Harris can do no wrong at the moment, taking a fine return catch following a leading edge from Bresnan - who perhaps deserved a half-century.

12:15pm - Lovely stuff from Swann, who is now well and truly in on the act. He slaps Harris over cover for four and England's lead is nearly at 300.

12pm - The boundaries continue to flow; Bresnan, with Harris around the wicket, backs away and flays him through covers and, in the next over, Graeme Swann leans into a Peter Siddle full toss and edges through the cordon. Time for a drink.

11:46am - WICKET! Broad c Smith b Harris 13; England 275/8 - Wow! That is a stunning delivery from Harris. After being flicked and cut for boundaries, the paceman goes around the wicket and delivers a vicious throat ball that takes Broad's glove and balloons to gully.

11:52am - This is wonderful cricket. The riposte comes from Bresnan, who cuts and pulls fours off Jackson Bird either side of a loft over mid-on.

11:43am - Wonderful response from England as Bresnan cuts and clips fours off Bird.

11:36am - Stuart Broad survives and then guides the next ball through backward point for four, but this is cracking stuff once again from Harris.

11:33am - WICKET! Prior b Harris 0; England 251/7 - Harris is on a hat-trick! And there's the challenge illustrated in two deliveries; Matt Prior's first delivery rears up and clatters into his stumps via the batsman's elbow.

11:31am - WICKET! Bell b Harris 113; England 251/6 - And that's what the new nut can do. Harris' delivery keeps low, takes a slight inside edge and castles England's centurion, who departs to an understandably generous ovation.

11:30am - REVIEW! - Ooh, that's a close call. Jackson Bird nips one back and raps Bresnan, shouldering arms, on the pad. Umpire Aleem Dar says not out, a decision that is upheld on review with the ball just clipping the stumps. To explain the below Tweet, Watson left the field midway through an over yesterday with a groin injury.

11:21am - Crucial period of play coming here, although I think I've said that before in this Test. Australia take the fresh cherry, which has generally offered more assistance. For those who might reply "thanks Sherlock" to that, I will defend myself by saying the difference between new and old ball has been noticeable on this track.

11:13am - Ah, a Bell cover-drive this early in the morning is always a good start. Ominous signs for Australia.

11:07am - It's been a fairly low-key start, which will delight England, with Ian Bell and Tim Bresnan nudging the first couple of overs for the odd single.

Pre-Play News

10:52am - Bell will resume alongside nightwatchman Tim Bresnan, who will aim to utilise an opportunity to bat for a significant period of time. Not long now...

10:34am - While you're waiting for today's play, watch what Jonny Bairstow has had to say to ecb.co.uk this morning:

10:24am - Key to England's hopes of extending their lead, currently 202, beyond 300 is Ian Bell, who will resume on 105 having reached three figures for the third time in the series.

10:15am - Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day four at the Emirates Durham ICG, where England are aiming to set a substantial target in the fourth Investec Test.


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