Rain stalls Aussie run glut

LEEDS, July 26: Rain rescued England on the third day of the fourth Test at Headingley today after Australia lost just one wicket while mov...

LEEDS, July 26: Rain rescued England on the third day of the fourth Test at Headingley today after Australia lost just one wicket while moving 201 ahead in the two hours of play available.

Australia reached 373 for five by scoring at more than four runs an over in the morning session, ended a few minutes early when the bad weather set in.Tasmanian Ricky Ponting completed his first Test century and went on to 127 before giving a skied catch to Mark Ealham at backward point off Darren Gough.

Ian Healy came in and ended the session unbeaten on 27, with Matthew Elliott 164 not out.

Ponting8217;s was a splendid innings and contained 19 fours and one six. He fully justified his recall after being dropped during the home series with West Indies eight months ago.

At lunch, Australia were in total command with Mathew Elliott looking rock solid on 164 not out.

Ten minutes before the scheduled tea interval, the rain was continuing to fall heavily and with the weather, according to locals, coming from the wrong direction8217;, the prospects of further play were slight.

Earlier, Rick ponting raced to a sparkling maiden Test hundred as his fifth-wicket stand with Elliot eventually realised 268 after the two had come together with Australia reeling at 50 for four.

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Tasmanian Ponting, having swept to 127 from his overnight 86 with a stream of superb strokes, became England8217;s only victim of a morning which brought 115 runs.

Darren Gough, armed with the second new ball, induced Ponting to sky to point as he attempted a whiplash pull. Ponting had hit a six and 19 fours, facing 202 balls, and his stand with opener Elliott had taken the Test, and probably the Ashes themselves, away from England.

Ponting, dropped after the first two Tests of last winter8217;s series against West Indies in Australia, said: 8220;It was tough getting back into the side and I8217;m glad to make the most of my chance.

8220;It was tricky early on and some of the other batsman found all sorts of different ways to get out but Matthew Elliott and myself tried to be positive.

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8220;Matty said last night that he was going to go for his shots and I tried to do the same. Matty and I had planned to be together for a lot longer. Allan Border and Steve Waugh had a partnership of 332 in 1993 and we wanted to do the same 8212; I let Matty down.8221;

Elliott and Ian Healy 27 n.o. pushed Australia past a 200-run lead, as England captain Mike Atherton gave all four of his seamers a chance with the second new ball.

But Atherton8217;s changes were to no avail and the forecast of rain for the rest of the day represented England8217;s only chance of survival in a match in which, like Old Trafford three weeks ago, they have wasted all their opportunities to put pressure on the Australians.