Darren Gough lifts England with the early wicket of Mark Taylor (Radio 4)

Australia, with a huge first innings lead of 102, were reduced to 74-4 at lunch after yet another impressive rearguard action from the England attack.

And it was Saturday's bowling heroes, Dean Headley and Darren Gough, who did the initial damage, before Peter Such claimed his first scalp of the match.

Michael Slater proved the home side's most dangerous player, with an impressive 47 not out - but he was highly fortunate to still be at the crease after getting the benefit of the doubt for a tight run-out decision.

Dazza does it again

Gough - pumped up after his first innings hat-trick - struck in his opening over of the morning.

Australian skipper Mark Taylor prodded outside off stump to the paceman's sixth delivery and edged the ball to his opposite number Alec Stewart at second slip for two.

Headley then doubled the damage, with Justin Langer dismissed for one in the Kent seamer's second over of the day. Langer was debatably adjudged lbw to a rising delivery that struck him on the thigh pad and looked to be clearing the stumps.

But Slater, in typically confident mood, and Mark Waugh were able to steady the ship with a useful partnership as Australia's lead went past the 150 mark.

Michael Slater awaits the verdict over a touch and go run-out decision (Radio 4)

Slater, however, seemed lucky to survive a run-out decision on 35.

Headley produced a superb throw from the deep to hit the stumps with Slater chasing a second run - but, after an agonising delay while the third umpire checked the inconclusive TV replays, the opener was given not out.

Mark Waugh is third man out, to a sharp catch from Mark Ramprakash (Radio 4)

England did not have to wait long for their next breakthrough, though. Headley was brought back into the attack and he fired in a short ball which Waugh turned to square leg, where Mark Ramprakash executed a superb one-handed catch.

Slater looked intent on hitting Such out of the attack, smashing the off-spinner for one huge pulled six.

Darren Lehmann falls to Peter Such's spin for a duck (Radio 4)

But Such stuck to his task and he was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Darren Lehmann, who cut a wide delivery to short leg and John Crawley juggled with the ball before claiming the catch.

The wicket brought Ian Healy to the crease, because Steve Waugh was off the field for much of Sunday with a hamstring strain, and was therefore prevented by Test rules from batting before 12:50 local time.

And Healy was almost on his way back to the pavilion after the first ball, as a bad-pat chance just evaded a diving Graeme Hick at silly point.

Scorecard - Lunch:

Australia second innings:
M Slater not out 47
M Taylor c Stewat b Gough 2
J Langer lbw b Headley 1
M Waugh not out 24
D Lehmann c Crawley b Such 0
I Healy not out 0
Extras 0
Total (for 4 wickets, 34 overs) 74

Fall: 1-16, 2-25, 3-64, 4-73

England first innings:
M Butcher lbw b Warne 36
A Stewart c Warne b McGrath 3
N Hussain c M Waugh b Miller 42
M Ramprakash c MacGill b McGrath 14
G Hick c Warne b MacGill 23
J Crawley not out 44
W Hegg b Miller 15
A Tudor b MacGill 14
D Headley c McGrath b MacGill 8
D Gough lbw b MacGill 0
P Such not out 0
Extras 21
Total (80.1 overs) 220

Fall: 1-18, 2-56, 3-88, 4-137, 5-139, 6-171, 7-204, 8-213, 9-213

Bowling: McGrath 17-7-35-2, Miller 23-6-45-2, MacGill 20.1-2-57-5, Warne 20-4-67-1

Australia first innings:
M Taylor c Hick b Headley 2
M Slater c Hegg b Headley 18
J Langer c Ramprakash b Tudor 26
M Waugh c Hegg b Headley 121
S Waugh b Such 96
D Lehmann c Hussain b Tudor 32
I Healy c Hegg b Gough 14
S Warne not out 2
S MacGill b Gough 0
C Miller b Gough 0
G McGrath c Hick b Headley 0

Extras 11
Total (all out, 87.3 overs) 322

Fall: 1-4, 2-52, 3-52, 4-242, 5-284, 6-319, 7-321, 8-321, 9-321

Bowling: Gough 17-3-61-3, Headley 19.3-3-62-4, Tudor 12-1-64-2, Such 24-6-77-1, Ramprakash 15-0-56-0