Simon Jones completed a six-wicket haul and Andrew Strauss cudgelled a century as England set Australia 423 to win late on the fourth day of the third Test against Australia on Sunday.
Australia finished the day on 24 for no loss with Justin Langer on 14 and Matthew Hayden on five. The visitors need 399 runs more to post an unlikely victory.
England declared their second innings on 280 for six from 61.5 overs, leaving the world champions around 40 minutes to survive before the close at Old Trafford.
Jones took six for 53 to help wrap up Australia's first innings for 302, giving the home side a lead of 142. Shane Warne top-scored with 90, with the next highest score coming from the extras (38).
Strauss then hit 106, his sixth test century and his first against Australia, and put on 127 for the third wicket with Ian Bell (65) before England called a halt.
Geraint Jones put the finishing touches with two huges sixes in the final over. He slogged 27 not out off 12 balls.
Glenn McGrath, back after missing the second test with an ankle injury, took five for 115, going at five runs an over.
Australia were booed and jeered for their go-slow tactics during England's second innings.
The five-match series is level at 1-1. Most of the third day was washed out by rain.
Warne's 90, off 122 balls and including a six and 11 fours, was the highest score of the Australian innings, with opener Matthew Hayden next in line with 34.
Warne, who frustrated the home side for just over three hours, has yet to score a test century. His innings at Old Trafford was the second time he has got to the 90s.
He was dismissed for 99 against New Zealand in Perth in 2001. It was later revealed that left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori had clearly overstepped in taking the wicket.
