England lead by 97 heading into last day

ADELAIDE, Dec 4 (Reuters) England led Australia by 97 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand at stumps on the fourth day of the second Ashes test today.

England had led by 38 on the first innings after bowling Australia out for 513 shortly after tea and were 59 for one in their second innings when play ended for the day at the Adelaide Oval.

Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 31 with Ian Bell not out 18 after Alastair Cook was dismissed for nine, caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off Stuart Clark.

Matthew Hoggard took 7-109 in Australia's innings, the best figures by an Englishman in Adelaide since Jack White took 8-126 in 1928/29, to ensure the locals finished just short of England's 551-6 declared.

Australia looked likely to sneak past England's total when Michael Clarke (124) posted his first test hundred in two years and Adam Gilchrist (64) returned to form before losing their last four wickets for 11 runs to be all out for 513.

REUTERS PM RN1336