Perth, December 15:

Australia edged closer to regaining the Ashes, dominating the second day of the third cricket Test after another spectacular English collapse at the crease on friday.

Australia were 119 for one in their second innings at stumps, an overall lead of 148 over the wilting tourists. They lead in the five-Test series 2-0 and can take back the Ashes with a win at Perth’s Waca Ground.

Eager to atone for last year’s defeat, captain Ricky Ponting seemed to have the scent of Ashes success. He was 57 not out, with opener Matthew Hayden emerging from a recent form slump also on 57.

The pair steadied the Australian innings with a century partnership after opener Justin Langer was bowled for a first ball duck by a perfect Matthew Hoggard inswinger.

The English resumed at 51 for two, having dismissed the home side for just 244. But things went awry almost from the start, with Paul Collingwood falling in the fourth over of the day to spark another collapse.

The English slumped to 128 for seven at one stage before a late rally by Kevin Pietersen (70) and tailenders Steve Harmison (23) and Monty Panesar (16 not out) enabled them to get to 215.

Seamer Stuart Clark was again the pick of the Australian bowlers claiming 3-49, was almost unplayable at times and beat the bat on numerous occasions. Part-time seamer Andrew Symonds snared 2-8.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA — 1st Innings: 244

ENGLAND — 1st Innings (overnight: 51-2)

A Strauss c Gilchrist b Clark 42

P Collingwood c Hayden b McGrath 11

K Pietersen c Symonds b Lee 70

A Flintoff c Warne b Symonds 13

G Jones c Langer b Symonds 0

S Mahmood c Gilchrist b Clark 10

M Hoggard c Hayden b Warne 4

S Harmison c Lee b Clark 23

M Panesar not out 16

Extras: 11 (1w, 10nb)

Total: 215

FoW: 1-36, 2-37, 3-55, 4-82, 5-107, 6-114, 7-128, 8-155, 9-175

Australia bowling: Lee 18-1-69-2, McGrath 18-5-48-2, Clark 15.1-3-49-3, Warne 9-0-41-1, Symonds 4-1-8-2

AUSTRALIA — 2nd Innings

J Langer b Hoggard 0

M Hayden not out 57

R Ponting not out 57

Extras: 5 (4lb, 1w)

Total: 119/1

FoW: 1-0

England bowling: Hoggard 7-2-21-1, Flintoff 8-1-23-0, Harmison 8-1-30-0, Panesar 10-1-29-0, Mahmood 2-0-12-0, Pietersen 1-1-0-0