ENGLAND will go into the final day of the second Ashes test with a 97 run lead over Australia.

Matthew Hoggard again received the plaudits on day three after he finished with seven wickets to earn England a slender lead at the end of the Australian innings.

The Yorkshire seamer claimed seven for 109 to help dismiss Australia for 513 and secure a 38 runs first innings lead, extended to 97 runs by the close of the fourth day.

It was Hoggard's best figures since claiming seven for 61 to help win the Johannesburg Test against South Africa two years ago.

It also helped him overtake Darren Gough into eighth place in Englands all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 231 victims.

Resuming 239 runs adrift on 312-5, still 40 away from saving the follow on, Australia made steady progress towards England's total with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke sharing a 98-run partnership.

Clarke, who hit 124 after five hours at the crease, also forged a 118-run stand with Shane Warne.

Gilchrist had fallen for 64 off 79 balls, when he was caught off the bowling of Ashley Giles.

Hoggard struck just before tea, trapping Warne leg before as he shuffled across his stumps.

Clarke followed five overs later when he pushed Hoggard to Giles at short mid-on.

Two overs later Stuart Clark lost his leg-stump trying to slog over the top to earn Hoggard his seventh victim.

James Anderson took the final wicket when Glenn McGrath edged behind.

Facing a nervous 19 overs the tourists lost opener Alastair Cook when he edged Clark behind, but Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell ensured there were no further setbacks before the close.