London, September 11:

Shane Warne made an early breakthrough for Australia, claiming the wicket of opener Andrew Strauss to send England to tea at 7/1 in its second innings in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. Warne had Strauss caught by Simon Katich for one shortly before the players left the field for bad light. Andrew Flintoff took 5-78 to destroy Australia’s hopes of taking the first-innings lead. They were all out for 367 midway through the second session in reply to England’s 373. Matthew Hoggard chimed in with 4-4 in 19 balls to finish with figures of 4-97 off 24.1 overw.

Brett Lee was the last man out, caught by Ashley Giles off Hoggard for six. Australia resumed at 277/2 but Flintoff was swinging the ball well in cool, gloomy conditions and claimed three early wickets. Damien Martyn spooned a Flintoff delivery straight to Paul Collingwood, having added just one run to his overnight score of nine. Matthew Hayden, who emerged from a lengtly form slump to score his first century in more than a year on Saturday, added 28 runs before he was out leg-before-wmcket to Flintoff for 138. Flintoff struck again when he had Katich out, lbw for one. Adam Gilchrist was out on the last ball before lunch, lbw to Hoggard for 23. Michael Clarke followed in the same fashion for 25 after the lunch break. Australia’s tailenders then fell cheaply.