| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
London: Australia captain Ricky Ponting and several fellow top-order batsmen took advantage of a good pitch and less than express bowling from Sussex in their Ashes tour opener at Hove on Friday.
Australia finished the third day of four on 379 for seven declared in their second innings with Sussex needing an unlikely 418 for victory on the last day.
Opener Phillip Hughes made 78, Michael Clarke 75 not out and Ponting 71 while Simon Katich and Michael Hussey weighed in with 40 apiece.
Australia started the day on 18 without loss and were on course to bat through to lunch without losing a wicket when Katich skied a pull off medium-pacer Robin Martin-Jenkins to mid-on.
Hughes completed an 85-ball fifty with eight fours but, having been missed in the slips, he was bowled aiming across the line by Sussex's South African debutant seamer Pepler Sandri.
Ponting was also reprieved, on 36, when Ollie Rayner put down a sharp second slip chance off Sandri.
The Tasmanian went on to score 71 off 76 balls, including a six and 10 fours before a leading edge off James Kirtley looped high to Luke Wright at mid-off.
Clarke batted briskly for his runs, facing 104 balls with one six and 11 fours before Ponting declared.
Australia, who hold the Ashes after thrashing England 5-0 'down under' in 2006/07, have one more match, against the England Lions next week, before the first Test starts in Cardiff on July 8.
Brief Score: Australians 349 for 7 dec and 379 for 7 dec (Hughes 78, Clarke 75, Ponting 71) lead Sussex 311 by 417 runs.
