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London: Joe Root's unbeaten 178 carries England to 333 for 5 on day three of 2nd Test at Lord's, leading Australia by 566.
Root was 178 not out and first innings centurion Jonny Bairstow 11 not out.
He grinded the Aussies out in the first two sessions before kicking on in the last session. Ian Bell gave him excellent support as the bowlers toiled away in vain. England have made sure that Australia are tired by the time they come out to bat last on a pitch wearing away quickly.
The 22-year-old Root, playing his eighth Test, was preferred as England captain Alastair Cook's opening partner after making a maiden Test hundred as a middle-order batsman against New Zealand at his Headingley home ground in May, a match in which then opener Nick Compton struggled.
Together with Yorkshire colleague and England nightwatchman Tim Bresnan, Root put on 99 for the fourth wicket after a Peter Siddle treble strike Friday had left the hosts 30 for three.
Their partnership meant that by lunch Australia, shot out for just 128 on Friday, already needed to surpass the Lord's Test record fourth innings victory total of 344 for one made by the West Indies against England in 1984, which featured Gordon Greenidge's unbeaten double century, if they were to pull off an astounding win.
England, 1-0 up in the five-match series after last week's 14-run victory at Trent Bridge, resumed Saturday on 31 for three, a lead of 264 runs.
But Bresnan's valuable innings of 38, which saw him at the crease for more than three hours, ended when he pulled a Pattinson bouncer straight to Chris Rogers in front of square.
Even so, at 129 for four, England now led by 362 runs.
In a series already full of Decision Review System controversies, there was one more added to the list Saturday when Bell, on three, edged Harris low to Steven Smith at gully.
Smith immediately claimed the catch but, with the umpires and batsman uncertain, the on-field officials referred the incident to third umpire Tony Hill.
As is often the case in these situations, the more replays were looked at, the greater the degree of uncertainty and it was no surprise when Bell was allowed to continue his innings.
Brief scores
England 361 (Bell 109, Bairstow 67, Trott 58, Harris 5-72) and 333/5 (Root 178*, Bell 74)
Australia 128 (Swann 5-44)
Status England lead by 566 runs
