(REUTERS)-Andrew Strauss and his opening partner Alastair Cook hit centuries as England reached 309-1, a lead of 88, going into the final day of the first Ashes Test against Australia. Cook, whose stand of 188 with Strauss was England’s best in a Test at the Gabba, was unbeaten on 132 at stumps and Jonathan Trott had contributed 54 to help the tourists, who made 260 in their first innings, closer to securing a draw.
Skipper Strauss claimed his 19th Test century – his first for 16 months – soon after lunch but was clearly furious with himself after being stumped by Brad Haddin off the occasional spin bowling of Marcus North for 110.
His innings had not been without chances, most notably an inside edge to a Peter Siddle delivery when he was on 61 that somehow missed the wicket and a glorious chance off Xavier Doherty that Mitchell Johnson spilled when he was on 70.
Strauss cut a Doherty delivery down to third man for four to record his century, which included 15 fours.
Johnson’s blunder summed up a difficult day for the quick and his fellow bowlers as they struggled to get anything out of the Gabba pitch despite heavy cloud cover.
Resuming on 19-0 after surviving 15 overs on Saturday, England looked comfortable against Australia’s pace attack of Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle, who took a hat-trick in England’s first innings.
England will be hoping to bat at least until lunchtime on Monday and accumulate a second innings score in excess of 450.
Caption: Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook take another run during their outstanding partnership in which both batsmen recorded centuries. (Yahoo Sport

ENGLAND first innings 260
Australia  first innings  481: M.Hussy 195, B. Haddin 136; S. Finn 6-125.

England second inningso/n 19 for no wkt.
A.    Strauss stp wkpr. Haddin  b  North b  110
A. Cook not out  132
Cook not out    6
Extras: (b1,lb-2, w4, nb-6)    13
Total: (one wicket,  101 overs)    309
Bowling (to date): Hilfenhaus  26-4-75-0 (3nb, 1w), Siddle  19-3-67-0 (nb-3, 2w)), North 12-2-22-1, Johnson 18-4-65-0, Doherty 18-3-52-0. Watson 8-2-25-0.