After the centuries of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich, M Clarke and M North batted sensibly to place Australia in a commanding position as their team took lead of 44 runs with five wickets still to fall on the third day of the first test match of the Ashes series at Cardiff.

M Clarke scored 83 runs while North scored unbeaten 54 runs as Australia’s score stood at 479 runs for the loss of five wickets on the close of the third day.

Yesterday, Australia resumed their inning from overnight score of 249 runs for loss of one wickets and J Andesrson sent back Katch (122) to pavilion at the score of 299 runs.

Then, Australia lost two wickets in quick succession as Mike Hussey (3) and Ponting (150) returned to pavilion on the score of 331 but after that Clarke and North paced the Australian inning to 474 before Clarke was dismissed by C Broad.