Marnus Labuschagne scored his first ton of this Ashes series as Australia fought hard on a rain impacted fourth day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Australia ended the day on 5-214, still 61 runs shy of England's first innings total but in a far stronger position to see out a draw, with more rain forecast for day five.
Rain delayed the start and bought a premature end to proceedings as just one session of 30 overs was possible in Manchester.
Australia are in such a strong position relative to the hole they found themselves in on day three thanks to a patient and composed partnership of 103 between Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh, with Labuschagne hitting a superb 111 to end his 22-innings century drought.
England tried a variety of tactics to break through, from having Jonny Bairstow stand up to the stumps to the pacers to the short ball barrage that has typified long periods of play over the entirety of this series.
But nothing worked as the partnership passed 50 off 111 balls and 100 off 174.
In that time the under-fire Labuschagne reached three figures himself, the first time since the Adelaide Test against the West Indies in December 2022.
As the clouds came in, England were denied the use of their seam attack, with Ben Stokes forced to use his spinners, Moeen Ali and Joe Root.
He fell for 111 though, slashing at Joe Root and getting a fine edge through to Jonny Bairstow.
Root was impressive during his six-over spell, expensive early but then threatening with every ball as Cameron Green came to the crease.
Green looked edgy and under pressure but survived until tea.
As the players went off, the rain came down again and play was eventually abandoned, with Australia confident they will be able to do enough in another rain reduced day on day five to draw the Test and retain the Ashes for the fourth-straight series.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
No more play today as the rain sets in, so Australia is 5-214, needing 61 runs to make England bat again.
Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh did their jobs brilliantly today, with both taking what was on offer and ticking off the runs and only losing Labuschagne very late in the process.
Both Marsh and Cameron Green had close calls before tea, but they'll restart on day five, when rain is also expected to play a part.
See you then!
Marnus is building quite the portfolio of famous locker-room shots.
Play can go until 4:30am AEST (7:30pm local), so that's two hours from now.
Bearing mind the rain needs to stop, then they need time to dry things off, then there's the question of light, I'd be surprised if we got more than an hour of play in this session at most.
Channel 9 have cut to their team at the ground and they are under the umbrella at Old Trafford and, behind them, we can see the cover on the pitch.
Rain looks light and mizzley, the sort of rain that is particularly abundant in that part of Lancashire from September through to June - and sporadically the other three months.
How long will it last? From experience, it'll either go in half an hour or three days.
Let's hope it's the former (if you're a fan of cricket or England) or the latter (if you are Australian).
What had been a great session for Australia was soured a little by the late wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for a superb 111.
But overall that was still a very positive session for Australia, who still have five wickets remaining as they look to make sure England at least has to bat again.
England were stymied by not being allowed to bowl their pace bowlers, but the addition of Moeen Ali and Joe Root to the attack has actually worked out very well, with the latter taking the only wicket to fall.
Still very much all to play for.
Moeen has Green defending the first.
The Old Trafford crowd are singing a less than complementary song about Australia's ability to convert a 2-0 series lead into a series win - slightly prematurely if you ask me.
Green defends again.
Tidy stuff from both combatants this over.
Lot of men around the bat: leg slip, slip, bat pad and a catching short mid on.
Green defends.
BIG APPEAL! Joe Root dives forward and takes a catch but did Green get an edge? It definitely hit pad - was there an edge though? Joel Wilson doesn't move but England reviews. No hesitation from Ben Stokes again.
It was a good decision from the umpire though - no bat, hitting outside the line.
Cam Green survives.
Marsh is now having to be super watchful, Root right on the money.
He's no mug with the ball, Joe Root. You'd argue he's a viable spin option with 58, now 59 Test wickets. 29 of those have come in the last three years, so his bowling is improving year on year.
Solidly played by Marsh to end the over.
Cameron Green fends back down the pitch.
Now he drives to mid on.
There is excitement from behind the stumps as Green drives, but more to get into Green's head more than anything else.
BEATEN! England voices are screaming in there. That ball has just beaten the outside edge.
CHANCE! A bit more extra bounce has everyone leaping and groaning from the middle of the pitch to the top of the 9,000-seater party stand at Old Trafford.
A terrific over comes to and end.
Cameron Green is the new man in.
He looks a bit wary again Joe Root, but after two sketchy balls gets a short one and he cuts away for a single.
TURN! INSIDE EDGE! Put down by Harry Brook at bat pad! It hit him on the finger tips and Joe Root is looking like a Yorkshire Nathan Lyon out there.
Marsh defends the last.
Terrific over from Joe Root.
He's attempted a cut and got a top edge.
There's a clear mark on the snicko and Marnus has to go.
That's a bad time to get out for Marnus, he was subdued in his century celebration and that's because he knew he had more work to do.
He goes for 111 off 173,
BIG APPEAL! Bairstow thinks he's caught Labuschagne!
There's no movement from Umpire Menon, but Ben Stokes reviews instantly.
Oh yes, big sound, snicko will confirm this is out I think.
Marnus fends to the leg side and gets a single to square leg. There is excitement and expulsions of anguish from the close catchers.
England are not allowed to bowl Mark Wood, but Joel Wilson looks like he's got sunglasses on. They're probably light enhancers, but they look dark on the TV coverage.
Moeen is on the money but Marsh sees out the over.
This partnership has gone past 100, by the way.
It's been a brilliant effort from this pairing. Match saving. Ashes winning, perhaps.
Long way to go yet.
Marnus fends off the outside edge and there is no run.
Marnus gets a single, and then Marsh wants one too off the next ball but is sent back. Now is not the time for runouts.
Marsh fends to mid on. No run.
Marsh defends into the off side.
Good ball! Turn and bounce, Marsh was beaten but the bounce would have taken it over the stumps as he is hit on the inner thigh.
There may be rain coming.
Moeen comes in and has Marsh defending solidly.
It's goof from Moeen here. He's asking questions, albeit the sort in the quick crossword rather than the cryptic at the moment.
And Marsh has just got two across, driving to wide mid on for a single.
Marsh and Labuschagne exchange singles.
England will be desperate for Root to keep finding that outside edge and posing questions to these batters.
They're being hamstrung, England, by not being able to use their seamers, but Root is doing a job.
Marnus gets two to point off the cut.
FOUR! Marnus guided that past first slip to where a second slip would stand and he gets four to third man.
Faster ball ends the over from Root, who has Marnus chopping down on his pads and out to midwicket. A good ball from Root to be honest.
Just his second overseas century - there had been some questions over the way he had played so far this tour, and even looking back to the back end of the Australian summer.
But he's answered those critics and has 100 off 161 balls.
His first Test century since Perth against the West Indies.
Marsh defends the first.
He wanted to have a go then, Marsh, but changed his mind with the ball in flight and defends.
He defends this next one too.
Marsh takes a single.
Marnus on strike, on 99.
He takes off for a quick single!
SIX! Lovely shot again from Marnus, another little skip down the pitch and he gets all of it to long on.
EDGED! FOUR! Oh my word, that was the chance England were after. Zak Crawley was there at slip and it's gone straight past him. It went quickly and was a hard chance - he'd have only caught it if it hit him I think. It was a brilliant ball, moving away through the air and leaping off the surface.
The chance goes down though.
Marnus takes a single.
Now Marsh defends.
Marsh defends the last.
BEATEN! A bit of extra bounce and Marsh's attempted cut misses the ball. Very close, the crowd rises in encouragement.
FOUR! Driven to mid off for a boundary - exquisite from Marsh and a perfect response.
He sees out the rest of the over.
Seems like there will be no seam for a bit.
Joe Root comes into the attack and is cut away for a couple by Marnus to point.
Marnus fends to just in front of the man at bat pad.
CHANCE! Just past that man at bat pad this time.
"CATCH IT" screams Bairstow as the ball is fended to bat pad again.
Marnus defends the next.
SIX! Marnus skips down the ground and clips the ball over the top for a maximum to long on.
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