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Clarke hundred sees Australia to a draw

Michael Clarke's unbeaten century guided Australia to a draw against England in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston here on Monday.The result kept Australia's defence of the Ashes alive, although it also meant England remained 1-0 up in the five-match series ahead of the fourth Test at Headingley, which starts on Friday.

The Australian vice-captain was 103 not out in a second innings total of 375 for five, a lead of 262, when a draw was agreed in the fifth day's final session without England needing to bat again in this rain-marred match.

England captain Andrew Strauss felt a little flat at not having made it 2-0 in the series.

"Yes, I am pretty disappointed," said Strauss.

"However, the wicket slowed down, literally died, so I can't really fault the bowlers.

"But give credit where its due both (Marcus) North and Clarke batted reall well and got them out of a hole.

"I didn't want to overbowl (Freddie) Flintoff when there isn't much happening. Now its time for some rest, as back to back tests are tough (Headingley test begins on Friday)."

Australian captain Rickey Ponting claimed that they had not been nervous going into the day's play when they resumed on 88 for two, still 25 runs behind.

"Not really no. We knew we had a job to do. But we were well prepared for it.

"North and Clarke controlled the situation really well.

"The whole game could have panned out differently if the weather had been better," said Ponting, who broke Allan Border's all-time Australian runs record in the first innings.

Clarke together with North (96) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 185 that made the game safe. The duo had come together with Australia just 48 runs in front at 161 for four and still in danger of defeat after Michael Hussey was caught behind for 64 off paceman Stuart Broad before lunch.

North was in sight of his second century of the series when he was brilliantly caught right-handed by a leaping James Anderson in the gully off Broad to end a 159-ball innings featuring 15 fours.

But Clarke, who made 136 in England's 115-run second Test win at Lord's, pressed on to a hundred in 192 balls in nearly five hours with the match ending when he pulled occasional medium-pacer Ravi Bopara for his 14th four to go to three figures.

Clarke did have two lucky breaks in the 90s. .On 92, a ball from Broad flicked the outside of his off-stump without disturbing the bails. And Clarke was caught by Anderson at slip on 96 off a Bopara no-ball.

He'd previously been dropped on 38 off a difficult chance by England captain Andrew Strauss.

BIRMINGHAM, England, Tuesday (AFP)

 

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