England claim Cardiff victory to go one-up

Australia lost six wickets for 65 runs in a session and a ball that proved terminal to their hopes of in the first Ashes Test. Mitchell Johnson top scored for Australia with 77 but it was in vain as England claimed a 169-run and a one-nil series lead.

Josh Hazlewood was the last man out shortly after 2am (AEST), 242 the final tally, but the damage had been done throughout the middle session of play.

For Australia, attention will immediately turn to the second Test, starting Thursday (8pm AEST), at Lord's. The primary concern will be the health of Mitchell Starc's right ankle but the batsmen have much to ponder too. 

David Warner fell on the final ball before lunch and the middle session of the fourth day was a procession as first Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Moeen Ali ran riot to leave Australia in tatters.

Warner's half-century had given Australia momentum on the fourth morning of the first Test in Cardiff, but his wicket on the stroke of lunch undid so much of the opener's hard work.

Warner had been patient and watchful in compiling his 15th career half-century - the fourth in the fourth innings of a Test match - but was trapped in front by Moeen Ali who continued to make an impact on this Test match. 

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England celebrate Warner's wicket // Getty Images

If Warner's wicket soured the Australian's lunch, what came after it was truly unpalatable. 

Steve Smith fell almost immediately after the lunch resumption, caught at second slip by Ian Bell as Stuart Broad started to get the Dukes ball to sing.

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Bell catches Smith in the slips // Getty Images

If ever Australia was in need of a captain's knock, the time was now for Michael Clarke. However it wasn't to be.

Nine times previously he had fallen victim to Broad in Ashes cricket. Now it is ten, deceived by a slower ball Australia's leader spooned a catch to Ben Stokes at point.

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Clarke heads back to the dressing room // Getty Images

Adam Voges did not fare much better, caught behind off Mark Wood with just a single to his name as Australia lost a collective 4-9 in six overs either side of lunch and still find themselves more than a day and a half away from safety and 300 runs from the unlikliest of victory targets.

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Mark Wood celebrates dismissing Voges // Getty Images

The hits kept coming fro the Australians. Moeen Ali's reintroduction saw Brad Haddin's attempt at positive intent succeed only in smashing a catch to Alastair Cook at short mid-wicket which the England captain palmed upward, juggled and caught tumbling backwards. 

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Cook is congratulated by ecstatic teammates // Getty Images

Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson looked like they might be rebuilding. They added 29 runs and had stemmed the flow of wickets, but it was to be the familiar nemises of ball striking front pad that did for Australia's veteran allrounder.

Watson looked back at umpire Marais Erasmus in disbelief when he raised the finger in response to Mark Wood's appeal. The last recognised batsman, he was left with little choice but to roll the dice and review his decision, but that fact will be quickly overshadowed by the allrounder's detractors blind in their belief his technical failings with the bat are not outweighed by what he offers with the ball. 

Video: Shane Watson falls lbw (Aus only)

For the second time in the match Hawk-Eye returned an 'Umpire's Call' verdict for his review, this time the ball tracking making more of an impact with the leg stump than the fine margain he endured in the first innings. Nevertheless the result is the same and the scorecard shows Shane Watson LBW for the 29th time in his Test career.

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Wood appeals for - and gets - Watson's wicket // Getty Images

Warner had started brightly, giving the large Aussie support in the Sophia Gardens stands some hope. 

The opener had hit four boundaries and one monster six, the later off Ali to send an early warning, but when the English allrounder got one to skid on, Australia's talismanic opener was rapped on the pad in front of leg stump. 

A brief chat with Steve Smith at the non-striker's end provided no solace for Warner who promptly turned on his heel and headed square for the dressing room.

Video: Dave's early warning to Moeen (Australia only)

Video: Johnson shows all-round class late on day four (Australia only)

It was left for Smith to follow along behind as Warner's wicket brought an early lunch, Australia at 2-97 trailing England by a still mammoth 314 runs and now with just eight wickets in hand.

Australia's day had got off to a bad start. Chris Rogers fell for 10 in a rocky opening in pursuit of the 412 England had set them with two full days in which to chase it. 

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Broad celebrates his early breakthrough // Getty Images

England's Joe Root had dropped a catch in the slips cordon and James Anderson was given an official warning for running on the pitch before Stuart Broad  as Australia made a steady start to their fourth innings.

Austrlia had advanced their score to 19 before Rogers was caught by Bell in the slips. It marked the end of a difficult morning for Rogers, who was forced to take a breather after being struck on the protective box in the day's first over. 

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Ouch. Rogers copped an early low blow // Getty Images

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