England pressing for victory

PERTH, Oct 30 AAP - England was making a late bid for victory at tea on the final day of a three-day match against Western Australia at the WACA ground.

The Warriors were 7-219 with Ryan Campbell (23no) and Stuart Karppinen the next batsman in - WA holding a lead of 105 runs.

Opener Michael Hussey (14) was the only batsman to be dismissed in the morning session after WA resumed at 1-16.

He attempted to pull a Simon Jones (4-72) delivery but ended up top-edging it down to fine leg where Andy Caddick took a fine sprawling catch.

It was a disappointing knock for the 27-year-old Hussey who would have been looking to further his chances for a berth in the Australian team down the track.

However his scores of 0 and 14 in this encounter would hardly have impressed national selector David Boon.

Test opener Justin Langer then came in at No.4 after deciding not to open the innings in the final seven overs of play last night because of a sore neck.

He lived dangerously, playing almost an identical shot on seven to the misguided stroke which dismissed Hussey.

However Langer's shot flew a few metres finer and went for four.

Langer and Rogers then batted in an attacking vein on a fairly lifeless pitch and put together a 141-run partnership for the third wicket.

However Langer (68) ended up swiping at a wide ball and was caught behind off allrounder Craig White's bowling.

And Marcus North, who was a thorn in the tourists' sides with an unbeaten 71 in the first innings, was removed first ball by White.

The medium-pacer had the ball move away from North for wicketkeeper Alec Stewart's second catch in successive balls.

England looked a genuine chance of forcing a result when Jones removed Rogers (86) to reduce the Warriors to 5-178, a lead of just 64 runs.

The tourists kept up their charge with Jones removing Hogg (18) and then Matthew Nicholson (2) with what was the last ball of the session.