A first innings lead of 242 placed great pressure on the English batsmen, but their combined experience counted when it was required, and their captain David Gower led the fight-back with a well made 106. Robin Smith was unluckily dismissed for 96. However it was again Terry Alderman's turn with 6 for 128, 4 of them LBWs achieved through either dead straight balls or – his speciality – the late swing from leg stump making them virtually straight balls that the batsmen played across. England had made a solid 359, but their first innings had let them down, and it left Australia with a comfortable target of 118 runs for victory on the last day.