Australia dominant despite Bairstow defiance

England 7 for 258 (Bairstow 103*, Stokes 66, Boland 2-25) trail Australia 8 for 416 dec (Khawaja 137, Smith 67, Broad 5-101) by 158 runs

Sydney: In another rain-affected day of play at the SCG, the hosts strengthened their advantage with the ball in the fourth Test of the Ashes series, despite the best efforts of Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow brought up England's first century of the series, though will have work to do tomorrow, batting with the tail to close the 158-run first innings deficit. The tourists will resume on 258/7.

Despite a delayed start, Australia came out firing with Mitchell Starc bowling Haseeb Hameed (6) in just the fifth over of the first session.

Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan survived the rest of opening spell shared between Pat Cummins and Starc, but they couldn't deal with what came next.

In his second over of the innings, fan favourite Scott Boland gave the Sydney crowd plenty to cheer about when he pegged Zak Crawley's off stump, dismissing the England opener for 18.

Three overs later, the Australian quick continued his remarkable form in his debut Ashes series, removing Joe Root for a duck.

The England skipper failed to manage Boland's delivery outside off stump, edging the ball to second slip for an impressive catch from Steve Smith.

With the lunch break in sight, things went from bad to worse for the visitors.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green got in on the action next, claiming the scalp of Dawid Malan (3), who flicked the ball off his hip to Usman Khawaja at leg slip.

Green's delivery would be the last of the first session as England headed into lunch 36/4 with all the work to do.

After succumbing to more than 10 overs without scoring a run, including the loss of three wickets, England began their fightback with Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow at the crease.

It seemed to be Stokes' lucky day as Cummins dropped the English all-rounder on nine runs and he was very fortunate not to walk three overs later. Green steamed in to Stokes, clipping his off stump but only for the bails to remain intact.

Australia's misfortune proved costly as the England duo brought up a 50-run partnership before Stokes notched up his 25th Test half-century off 70 balls.