THERE was only one session of play on day four of the fourth Ashes Test overnight, with the rain-stricken Manchester forecast helping Australia edge closer to a draw. Should that occur with another inclement day ahead, the visitors will retain the urn in rather anticlimactic fashion.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Return of the Marn’

With the tourists needing a hero, Marnus Labuschagne produced his best innings of the tour to notch a crucial breakthrough ton. All the hours of tinkering in the nets paid off for Australia’s number three, who advanced his overnight haul of 44 to an end of 111. He did so alongside Mitch Marsh and the pair made it look relatively easy against England’s seamers, until bad light forced the spinners on. That brought about Labuschagne’s dismissal, edging Joe Root behind for Jonny Bairstow to juggle a catch. It was only Labuschagne’s second overseas Test century and his 11th overall.

England’s blessing in disguise

He may not have been entirely pleased with it at the time, but England captain Ben Stokes would have recognised the blessing in disguise bad light afforded his side. With Labuschagne and Marsh looking relatively comfortable against England’s seamers, they forced them out of the attack and the spinners – Moeen Ali and Root – took centre stage. The latter looked most dangerous, prizing Labuschagne’s wicket and nearly nabbing that of Cameron Green with what ended up being the final ball of the day.

A Hard Rain’s A‐Gonna Fall

Cricket was traded for cards and cups of tea for much of day four, with only 30 of the revised 59 overs bowled. That looks like being the case once more on the final day’s play, with rain again forecast in Manchester after the heavy covers spent much of yesterday over the Old Trafford pitch. It means Australia may only have to survive another session – or even less – to secure a draw and thus retain the Ashes. For all England’s dominance, the nation’s fickle weather looks like being the deciding factor.

DAY FOUR SCORECARD

1st Innings: Australia 317 (90.2)
Mitch Marsh 51 (60), Marnus Labuschagne 51 (115), Travis Head 48 (65)
Chris Woakes 5-62 (22.2), Stuart Broad 2-68 (14), James Anderson 1-51 (20)

2nd Innings: England 592 (107.4)
Zak Crawley 189 (182), Jonny Bairstow 99* (81), Joe Root 84 (95)
Josh Hazlewood 5-126 (27), Cameron Green 2-64 (15.4), Mitchell Starc 2-137 (25)

England lead by 275 runs.

3rd Innings: Australia 5-214 (71)
Marnus Labuschagne 111 (173), Mitch Marsh 31* (107), David Warner 28 (53)
Mark Wood 3-27 (11), Chris Woakes 1-31 (12), Joe Root 1-32 (6)

Australia trails by 61 runs.

SESSION BREAKDOWN

SESSION 1:
No play before lunch.

SESSION 2:
Australia 1-101 (30), trail by 61 runs
Points to… Australia

Notes: The only session played, with 30 overs which may well go a long way to deciding the match. Labuschagne passed 50 and then 100 but was out shortly after, leaving Marsh and Green to consolidate in the face of England’s all-spin attack – forced due to bad light.

SESSION 3:
Rained out.