Australia was scrambling for a draw in the third test after England took two wickets yesterday and required another eight in the last two sessions to take a 2-1 lead in the Ashes series.
Skipper Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 41 and No. 4 Damien Martyn was 17 not out with their side 121 for two at lunch on the last day at Old Trafford.
The Australians, resuming at 24 without loss and needing 399 to win, scored 97 runs in 28 overs in the morning session and still needed 302 for an unlikely win.
Ponting went to the crease in the second over when Justin Langer (14) was caught behind off Matthew Hoggard's first ball without addition to Australia's total.
Andrew Flintoff tormented Matthew Hayden (36) before finally bowling the opener to make Australia 96 for two.
Hayden edged three boundaries off Flintoff wide of second slip to move from 17 to 29. The allrounder bowled with extra pace and beat the bat four times in his fourth and fifth overs, just missing the edge, and crashing an inswinger into Hayden's pads that was fractionally too high for an lbw decision.
Flintoff swung a ball back to shatter Hayden's stumps and break a 71-run partnership with Ponting, ensuring a more defensive approach from the Australians. Ponting faced 82 balls and scored a six and three boundaries. Martyn hit three boundaries and faced 23 deliveries.
On Sunday, Simon Jones took a career-best 6-53 as Australia was bowled out for 302 in reply to England's 444. Andrew Strauss then stroked his maiden Ashes hundred before England captain Michael Vaughan declared at 280-6, setting Australia 423 to win.
RSS