Cricket Australia XI Six-man lead of 214 and 357 (Ward 120, Clayton 84, Radhakrishnan 58, Cook 3-34). England Lions Runs at 316 x 255
Ward’s 120 off 223 balls provided the foundation for the home side to reach 357 for six and then take a 255-run lead heading into the final day.
Ward set the tone for a tough day for the Lions bowlers as he dug in with opener Nivethan Radhakrishnan, who hit 58 off 110 balls to blunt the tourists’ threat.
Radhakrishnan eventually pulled Pat Brown, who had a hat-trick in the first innings, to Hamza Shaikh behind the square. Clayton took a more aggressive approach to strike 84 off 101 balls in his 140-run third wicket partnership with Ward.
Left-arm spinner James Coles ended the stand when Clayton was close to Freddie McCann at first slip, and after Ward had reached the ton on five from the crease, Cook finally rewarded wicketkeeper James Rew with a faint nick.
Cook struck again in signature style when Hugo Button was trapped leg-legged earlier but the home side took the lead to set up the final day.
