Summary

  • Australia's tail wags to take tourists to slender 12-run lead

  • Murphy and Cummins put on 49 for ninth wicket

  • Smith narrowly survives incredibly close run-out on 43, but holes out for 71

  • Root, Anderson & Broad all in the wickets as Australia fall from 115-2 to 185-7

  • Broad removes Khawaja and Head in magical post-lunch spell

  • In morning session, Labuschagne spectacularly caught by diving Root at first slip

Live Reporting

Callum Matthews, Sam Drury and Timothy Abraham

  1. Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special

    Another one, two sixes! You may as well stick the furniture in the shed!

  2. 6 runs

    Aus 266-8

    Trail by 17

    Todd Murphy!

    Another attempted short ball from Mark Wood but it doesn't get up high enough and Murphy is again able to pull over fine leg for six.

    Murphy looks very capable.

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    I think what this series has taught us is we are very evenly matched sides. Nothing between us.

    Kit from Croydon

  4. Aus 260-8

    Trail by 23

    I was saying about England having a lead. There's every chances that Australia could end up with one yet.

    They pick up two boundaries off Chris Woakes' over as Pat Cummins slices to the third boundary before Todd Murphy plays a superb drive through point.

    Handy 21-run partnership so far.

  5. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at The Oval

    AndersonGetty Images

    I've just seen someone in a 2008 Manchester United away shirt with 'Anderson 8' on the back. A cricket-football crossover or an unlikely fan of the Brazilian central midfielder?

  6. Aus 250-8

    A couple of singles follow the six.

    At just 33 currently any lead England get is likely to not make much difference.

  7. How's stat?!

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    That was Todd Murphy's first ever six at top-level cricket, both domestic and internationally.

  8. Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It was a glorious shot. It was a pull shot, but an effortless one. Murphy just helped it along. It was Gower-esque.

  9. 6 runs

    Aus 248-8

    Trail by 35

    Oh my.

    Todd Murphy is channelling his inner Mark Wood.

    A short ball doesn't get very high and Murphy is able to swivel pull over fine leg for six.

    Superb stroke.

  10. And here's the other time that Andy thinks Steve Smith was out.

  11. Here's how Steve Smith fell for 71.

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    At last, Smith goes on 71 for 2.

    Andy, Tunbridge Wells

  13. Aus 241-8

    Trail by 42

    Pat Cummins again takes a single off the first ball before Todd Murphy sees out the rest of the over.

    At least they are scoring more freely than Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne this morning...

  14. This was horrible cricket.

  15. Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    This Test match is ebbing and flowing. The dismissal of Steve Smith is critical as he was the one who could have given Australia a first innings lead, but that looks unlikely now.

  16. Aus 240-8

    Trail by 43

    Pat Cummins trusts Todd Murphy.

    He takes a single from the first ball and Murphy leaves, ducks, sways ad blocks his way through the rest of the over.

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    Stop trying to Bazball, Steve. You aren’t good enough.

    Josh

  18. Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    That was partly a consequence of Stokes taking his time. He went big and Bairstow had to spring back 15 yards or so. He had to judge the breeze and he took the catch.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Smith c Bairstow b Woakes 71 (Aus 239-8)

    Steve Smith is gone! Chris Woakes, ya beauty.

    What has got into Smith?

    He attempts to flick/swipe at a leg-side ball but a top edge goes up in the air.

    Jonny Bairstow has to make up some good ground, but steadies himself under the catch and holds on.

    England have got an opening again. They still lead by 44 at this point.

  20. Aus 237-7

    Trail by 44

    Where's what come from?

    Steve Smith decides to have an big ol' heave and slices it up in the air, but it goes over the head of Stuart Broad at mid-off.

    It plugs in the outfield and that's a slice of luck for Smith.