England 361 and 5-333 (Joe Root 178*, Ian Bell 74, Peter Siddle 3-65) leads Australia 128 (Shane Watson 30, Michael Clarke 28, Graeme Swann 5-44) by 566 runs

A sparkling ton from the young gun of England, Joe Root, assisted by a solid batting from Ian Bell put England in a commanding position against Australia.

The Englishmen hammered 361 runs in their first innings and powered another 333 for the loss of five wickets while utilising 110 overs in the second whereas the Kangaroos surrendered for 128 runs in their first one.

The third day’s play concluded on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Lord’s, London.

Earlier, the hosts went into bat at 3-31 in 20 overs whereas Joe Root along with Tim Bresnan were unbeaten at 18 and 0 runs respectively. The first began with a four and Bresnan got 2 back to back boundaries in the 27^th over. The batsmen kept on consolidating as Joe Root reached his fifty in the 41^st over. The night watchman, Bresnan, was playing with confidence and did not play any rash shot while the lunch break was taken at 3-114 in 51 overs.

The visitors got the first success of the day when Tim Bresnan was caught by Chris Rogers off James Pattinson for 38 as the score touched 129. The man in form, Ian Bell, joined in next with Root who kept on adding the runs at his end. The first dispatched two consecutive fours in the 73^rd over whereas Joe Root plundered his first Ton as an opener, and the second of his Test career, with another boundary.

Ian Bell was taking his time to score the runs, he managed just 20 on 65 balls and hit his third four in the 85^th over. The second hundred of the innings appeared on the screen in the next over as the run rate was enhanced by the duo. Bell attained his 36^th Test fifty with a single in the 90^th over while Root accumulated 4 fours in the coming overs. The fifth wicket association contributed 153 valuable runs and took the score to 282 when Ian Bell was caught by Rogers at midwicket off Steven Smith for 74 from 103 deliveries comprising 11 fours.

Jonny Bairstow got together with Joe Root who reached a magical figure of 150 runs in the 101^st over. The latter dispatched a couple of sixes to Smith and secured his end for 178 off 334 balls with 2 lofty sixes and 18 fours. Bairstow was batting at 11 as the home side piled up 333 runs in 110 overs with five wickets remaining.

England has taken a massive overall lead of 566 runs and is anticipating another victory against Australia.