The Waugh brothers, Mark and Steve, shut out England in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval today as Australia amassed 440 for two in their bid to win the series 4-1.
Another dropped catch, no wickets with the new ball and Mark and Steve still together at lunch, adding a further 116 runs.
It was the type of session England knew they had to avoid. Yet it could have been different on the immaculate batting track had Mark Butcher held a fairly comfortable catch at second slip offered by Mark Waugh off the fourth ball of the day.
Butcher juggled with the waist-high edge but could not hold on and thereafter Mark Waugh prospered in the sun in partnership with Steve, who began to motor in the final overs before the interval.
Mark Waugh was 50 at the time of his early escape and reached 92 by the break with his captain and brother 77.
All that and centurion Justin Langer, who retired hurt last night, Damien Martyn, with two centuries in the series, and the punishing Adam Gilchrist still to come to make it a long, hot day for the England bowlers.
The Waughs stand was worth 148, their ninth three-figure alliance in Test cricket and fifth against England.
They smashed a six apiece off the recalled Phil Tufnell, whose interval figures read 30-1-141-1.
PA