Fortune smiles on England as weather hits 3rd Ashes test
Australia built a lead of 331 runs and was weighing up when to declare its second innings Sunday.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) - England moved to the cusp of a third straight series win over Ashes rival Australia and it has the inclement Manchester weather to thank.
Australia built a lead of 331 runs and was weighing up when to declare its second innings Sunday when bad light stopped play 37 minutes into the final session on day four.
Rain arrived around half an hour later and no more play was possible, with the unlucky tourists stranded on 172-7.
Australia captain Michael Clarke protested. Spectators booed the umpires. The only people smiling were England s players.
They just need to bat through Monday which is also forecast to be hit by bad weather to retain the urn.
It would be an unsatisfactory way to clinch a third straight Ashes series but the English won t care a jot.
