Australia [ Images ] overhauled England's [ Images ] first innings total of 435 on Friday during a productive second session on the third day of the first Ashes Test.

• Scorecard: Australia vs England, 1st Ashes Test

Michael Clarke [ Images ] batted beautifully throughout with a string of handsome shots to reach 70 not out at tea. He was ably supported by Marcus North who marked his Ashes debut by reaching his half-century just before the interval.

Australia were 458 for four after losing three wickets in the opening session.

Clarke drove Stuart Broad [ Images ] to the extra-cover boundary and off-drove Monty Panesar [ Images ] over long-off for six without obvious effort to bring up the 50 partnership.

He brought up his half-century with a driven four off Graeme Swann [ Images ] and pulled Andrew Flintoff [ Images ] sweetly through mid-wicket to give Australia the first innings lead.

North swept Panesar for four and took further boundaries off Swann with a square-cut and a sweep. Two mistimed sweeps by North off Panesar which fell safely in the fine-leg area were the only obvious blemishes over two hours.

Swann, who had come into the match as England's form bowler after impressive displays in India [ Images ] and the Caribbean, suffered in particular. The off-spinner conceded 86 runs from 28 wicketless overs after bowling five consecutive maidens on Thursday.

James Anderson [ Images ] took two wickets in 14 deliveries with the second new ball in the pre-lunch sesssion to dismiss Simon Katich [ Images ] (122) and Michael Hussey [ Images ] (3).

Captain Ricky Ponting [ Images ], whose second wicket partnership with Katich had turned the match in Australia's favour, was out for 150 when he dragged a Panesar delivery on to his stumps.