Australia need record to win

SYDNEY, Jan 5 AAP - Australia needs to break a record that has stood for more than a century if it is to beat England in the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

By lunch on day four, England batsmen Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain had taken full advantage of Australia's depleted bowling attack, leading their side to a 312-run lead with a record partnership of 189.

At the break, the tourists were 3-313 with Vaughan unbeaten on 166.

Australia took the new ball after 82 overs and finally struck four overs later when paceman Brett Lee had Hussain caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for 72 on the last delivery before the lunch break.

The highest winning Ashes score at the SCG was Australia's 4-276 to beat England by six wickets in 1898.

Vaughan, who yesterday became only the seventh tourist to score three tons in an Australian summer after overcoming a duck in the first innings, resumed on 113 and hit 26 fours and a six on the way to his score.

Hussain, who scored a handy 75 and shared England's previous best third wicket stand against Australia at the SCG of 166 with Mark Butcher in the first innings, hit nine fours in his second knock.