Away side push on for quick runs as rain falls just before tea.
Australia has reached 137-5 in their second innings against England at Old Trafford with a healthy lead of 296 runs at tea on day four.
However, the biggest player with the biggest say in the outcome of the game, and perhaps the series, has come into the game, with rain falling hard enough at the ground for the pitch to be covered.
Already Australia have more runs than has ever been successfully scored to win in a fourth innings at Old Trafford, that being England’s 294 against New Zealand in 2008.
But the pitch continuing to play flat and true, the away side would be looking to set the Three Lions close to 350 for the win.
‘Just after lunch and England reviewed a not out call on a failed hook shot from David Warner off the bowling Stuart Broad, however, replays showed no solid evidence to overturn the on-field call.
The decision frustrated the England players who took their complaints to the on-field umpires, only for them to be turned away.
Warner continued to push the pace in his innings and looked to cut with the spin off the bowling of Swann, despite Alastair Cook packing the off-side field.
As if the game had a curse on Warner, a sharp rising ball off a full length from the bowling off Tim Bresnan hit him solidly on the thumb, with some treatment needed for the Australian opener.
Fittingly, Warner was dismissed when he hooked a ball to Joe Root at deep square-leg, bringing for a chorus of support for the young Englishman.
Warner departed for 41 off 57 balls as Australia fell to be 74-2 and in front by 234 with Shane Watson coming to the crease with 50 overs left it the day.
Matt Prior missed a tough stumping chance when Khawaja danced down the pitch only to see a sharp-turning ball from Graeme Swann beat the keeper and first slip.
Swann earned another wicket for the home side when he bowled Khawaja around his leg, leaving him perplexed at the crease, but forced to depart nonetheless for 24 as the away side’s score became 99-3 – a lead of 258.
The England off-spinner was quickly earning a reputation in bowling to Khawaja, having dismissed him four times in three Tests.
Watson came and went quickly for 18 as he played an uppercut shot off a short ball from Tim Bresnan.
However, he only managed to guide it perfectly to Kevin Pietersen at third-man as the wheels on the Australian innings began to wobble at 104-4 and a lead of 262.
The Australian innings started to fall apart as Steve Smith and Clarke had a mix-up in call for a run, which only resulted in the later being forced to retreat back to his crease, diving in the process.
However, Clarke was guilty of not pushing hard in his running, but was caught short of his ground on 19 with the score 133-5 with the overall lead being 292.
The forecast rain that was looming around the ground for hours before finally came down with just 10 minutes left to tea, as umpires elected to take an early break.
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