Birmingham, Aug 3 (IANS): England's tail battled hard to extend their lead to 90 as Australia dismissed them for 374 on Day 3 of the first Ashes Test at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Saturday.

A 65-run ninth wicket stand between Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad ensured that their lead got close to the three-figure mark despite the hosts starting the second session with just two wickets in hand.

In what turned out to be another competitive session, England started with a lead of 44 runs. Woakes and Broad continued on the rebuilding work they had embarked on in the first session after Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle took out England's lower middle order in quick succession.

Woakes was the man doing the bulk of the batting while Broad faced 67 deliveries before being dismissed for 29 by Pat Cummins. James Anderson could only bowl four overs on Day 1 before a recurrence of tightness in his right calf ruled him out for most of the proceedings after that.

But he did come out to bat on Day 3 after the dismissal of Broad and absorbed 19 balls for three runs before becoming Nathan Lyon's third victim of the innings. Woakes was unbeaten on 37.

Brief scores: 1st innings: Australia 284 all out (Steve Smith 144, Broad 5/86) vs England 374 all out (Rory Burns 133, Nathan Lyon 3/112).