All square with one to go

– Australia gain momentum with massive win

LEEDS, England,  (Reuters) – Australia will ride a wave  of momentum into the Ashes decider following their crushing win  over England in the fourth test yesterday.

The touring side completed an innings and 80-run victory  shortly after lunch on the third day to level the series at 1-1  and set up a mouth-watering fifth test at the Oval next week.

“I am ultra-proud of the way our guys have responded,”  Australia captain Ricky Ponting told a news conference.

“We dominated the match from the start and I don’t think we  could have done anything better. We played an unbelievably good  game.”

England captain Andrew Strauss was not looking to make any  excuses for his side’s dismal display.

“We just have to take this on the chin,” he said. “If we are  looking to make excuses then we are barking up the wrong tree.  It is hard to put a finger on why the performance was so bad.

“We didn’t bat well enough on the first day, it was far  below the level we should be playing at and we must learn  lessons from it.”

England at least avoided a record margin of defeat thanks  mainly to a dazzling century partnership between Stuart Broad  and Graeme Swann.

England resumed on 82 for five following their collapse on  Saturday and nightwatchman James Anderson edged the third ball  of the day from Ben Hilfenhaus to Ponting at second slip.

Matt Prior, on 22, nibbled at a Hilfenhaus outswinger and  edged the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who took a brilliant  diving catch.
DIFFICULT CHANCE

Broad was dropped by Peter Siddle on 18, a very difficult  chance at mid-off, but he struck a succession of sweet  boundaries and reached his half-century from only 42 balls with  a crashing straight drive for four off Siddle.

Swann also went on the attack, the pair adding 49 runs in  three overs from Stuart Clark and Siddle.

Broad was dropped again on 53 by Mitchell Johnson running  back at long-off and Swann’s quick single brought up the 100  partnership off 73 balls.

Broad survived yet again when Simon Katich failed to grasp  another tough boundary catch but his luck finally ran out on 61  when he pulled Siddle and Shane Watson held the chance at deep  square leg.

Swann reached his half-century with a hook for six off  Siddle and England took lunch on 245 for eight.

Swann was first to go after the interval for 62, driving at  a wide ball from Johnson to give Haddin an easy catch and  Johnson clean bowled Graham Onions for a duck to seal victory  and complete impressive figures of five for 69.