Ponting departs as England eye victory

England saw the back of Australia captain Ricky Ponting as they moved closer to winning their first Ashes Test at Lord's in 75 years here on Sunday.

Australia were 178 for five at tea on the fourth day of the second Test of this five-match series - still needing a further 344 runs to reach their world record victory target of 522.

But England were now just five wickets away from wrapping up this match with more than a day to spare and so taking a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series.

Michael Clarke, who held firm with a typically stylish fifty in 58 balls, was 60 not out and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin 15 not out.

Ponting had added just one run to his lunch score, when 10 balls after the break, he tried to force the ball but played on to pace bowler Stuart Broad for 38.

His exit left Australia in dire straits at 78 for three and continued Ponting's poor run of Test scores at Lord's where his best is 42.

LONDON, Sunday,AFP

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 425 AUSTRALIA 
1ST INNINGS 215 

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS 
   311for 6 dec.

AUSTRALIA 

2ND INNINGS 
P. Hughes c Strauss b Flintoff		17
S. Katich c Pietersen b Flintoff 	 6
R. Ponting b Broad 			38
M. Hussey c Collingwood b Swann		27
M. Clarke not out    			60
M. North b Swann			 6
B. Haddinnot out 			15

Extras(lb5, nb4)  			 9
Total(5 wkts, 49 overs)			178
Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Katich), 2-34 (Hughes), 3-78 (Broad), 4-120 (Hussey), 5-128 (North)
Bowling: Anderson 12-2-57-0; Flintoff 14-3-35-2 (4nb); Onions 6-0-35-0; Broad 9-2-23-1; Swann 8-1-23-2;