Aussies spin web over England bats

Nathan Lyon has enjoyed a stellar day and taken five wickets at the MCG to give Australia a strong chance of victory on the third day of the fourth Ashes test.

But the team will still have to bat well tomorrow with a target of 231 to keep their chances of an Ashes clean sweep alive.

David Warner (12) and Chris Rogers (18) batted well for eight overs before stumps to leave Australia 0-30 and reduce the deficit to 201.

But it was Lyon’s day. The off spinner took 5-50 - his first five wicket haul in Australia - but also created his own piece of history by taking his 100th test wicket.

Lyon also contributed with the bat and his 18 runs as part of a 40-run partnership with Brad Haddin lifted Australia’s total to 204 and gave them a chance.

Lyon first deceived Ian Bell with flight and had him caught at mid off for a duck. Then Ben Stokes played a terrible shot and holed out to Steve Smith in the deep for 19

But Lyon turned the game on its ear with his 16th over when he dismissed Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad for ducks.

Then he enticed a loose shot from Kevin Pietersen while he was on 49 and Ryan Harris took the catch in the deep.

It was another dramatic day of test cricket.

England collapsed twice. They lost 4-60 during the post-lunch session including 4-22 in seven overs and 3-1 in six balls.

Then the tail fell apart as they lost 5-6 in 40 balls.

On a day where England needed to post a big total, they batted for only 61 overs and made 179.

Mitchell Johnson had a purple patch when he took took two wickets, a catch and ran out Joe Root midway through the day.

He followed that up with the final wicket of Monty Panesar to take 3/25.

Johnson and Pietersen also had a heated exchange in the final session after the England batsman pulled out from the crease as the WA paceman was finishing his run up to the pitch.

Tensions rise between Mitchell Johnson and Kevin Pietersen.

English captain Alastair Cook passed 8000 runs and scored a half century, Haddin made 65, Pietersen batted well and he also provided drama after engaging in a heated argument with Johnson as wind and debris created havoc around the MCG.

The 231 run target will be challenging because England's first innings total of 255 remains the biggest tally of the test.

But Australia have two days to achieve the task