Hussey scores century as Australia dominate

PERTH, Dec 16 (Reuters) Mike Hussey celebrated his first Ashes century as Australia ruthlessly tightened their grip on the third test against England today.

Hussey followed up half-centuries in his four previous innings in the series with a superb 103 to help Australia build an imposing 386-run lead over the tourists at tea on the third day at the WACA.

Hussey also shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 151 with Michael Clarke, who reached the interval on 73, with Australia cruising along at 357 for four in their second innings after starting the day on 119 for two.

Although there are more than two days to go, the odds are already heavily stacked against England winning the match, leaving the tourists with the daunting prospect of trying to draw it to keep the series alive after losing the first two tests.

No visiting team has ever scored more than 300 runs in the fourth innings of a test at the WACA and the highest successful run-chase by any team in Perth was when Australia made 342 for eight to beat India in 1977.

With the pitch starting to flatten out under the scorching summer temperatures, Australia will be looking to build a lead of around 600 before declaring on Sunday.

England dismissed Australia's captain Ricky Ponting for 75 and opener Matthew Hayden for 92 before lunch but did not get another wicket until Hussey fell to the last ball before tea.

The left-handed Hussey survived a chance on 48 when he skied a hook off Steve Harmison that fell between three English fielders to become the first Australian to score a half-century in five successive innings of an Ashes series.

The only Englishman to achieve the feat was John Edrich in 1968.

Hussey had another let-off on 78 when he was dropped by Andrew Strauss at a wide slip before smacking Harmison down the ground for four to reach his fifth test hundred off 148 balls in 213 minutes.

Hussey, who was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, has been in phenomenal form in the series, scoring 86, 91, 61 not out, 74 not out and 103 for a total of 415 at 138.33. He boasts a career average of 86.33 from 14 tests.

Hayden fell agonisingly short of his first hundred of the series when he was brilliantly caught by Paul Collingwood at slip off Panesar and Ponting feathered a catch off Harmison to Jones.

Ponting and Hayden had put on 144 for the second wicket after Justin Langer was bowled by Matthew Hoggard with the first ball of the innings when England were still in the match.

Clarke, who made a century in the second test in Adelaide, survived a missed stumping at the start of the innings to reach his half-century off 76 balls in 110 minutes.

Reuters SAM GC1328