Clarke unbeaten hundred sees Australia to draw

Birmingham: Unbeaten century by Michael Clarke and Marcus North (96) came together with Australia far from safe in this match and they killed off England's hopes of victory. The rain, of course, was the deciding factor earlier in the match Monday.

Michael Clarke's unbeaten century guided Australia to a draw against England in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston 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.

Together with left-hander Marcus North (96) he 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.

England, looking to go 2-0 up in the five-match series with two to play ahead of next week's fourth Test at Headingley, had a chance for victory after reducing Australia to 172 for four effectively 59 for four at lunch following the exit of Michael Hussey for 64, caught behind off Stuart Broad.

But the swing that had proved so potent for them earlier in the match was missing and, in good batting conditions, their attack struggled.

That England had a shot at winning was remarkable given that two days' play had been lost to bad weather, including Saturday's complete washout.

Left-hander Hussey (18 not out overnight) fell to Stuart Broad's 12th ball of the innings - and first from around the wicket - when he edged to wicket-keeper Matthew Prior after two-and-a-half hours at the crease.

Earlier, Anderson with his sixth ball Monday had Shane Watson caught behind for 53. It was the makeshift opener's second fifty of the match after he'd come in for dropped left-hander Phillip Hughes.

Ashes holders Australia resumed Monday on 88 for two, still 25 runs behind.

England had all but ended any Australian hopes of victory on Sunday with Onions dismissing Simon Katich and Graeme Swann's classic off-break bowling Australia captain and star batsman Ricky Ponting for five.

England had been struggling at 168 for five on Sunday in reply to another inadequate Australia first innings, this time of 263.

The fourth Test begin at Leeds from Friday August 07, 2009

Brief Score: Australia 263 (SR Watson 62, JM Anderson 5-80, G Onions 4-58) and 375 for 5 (MJ Clarke 103*, MJ North 96, SCJ Broad 2-38) drew England 376 (A Flintoff 74, AJ Strauss 69, BW Hilfenhaus 4-109, PM Siddle 3-89)