CRAIG Overton battled on despite a rib injury, but Australia are closing in on victory in the third Ashes Test - a win that would see them reclaim the urn.

Overton - despite his cracked rib - fought through the pain barrier, finishing with 2-110 off 24 overs in Australia's first innings.

England finally removed Australian captain Steve Smith for a mammoth 239 (as Jimmy Anderson (4-116 off 37.3) trapped him lbw), but the hosts made it to 662-9 declared, giving them a first-innings lead of 259.

In response, the tourists slumped to 60-3, before James Vince (55), Dawid Malan (28no) and Jonny Bairstow (14no) got them to 132-4 when rain stopped play for the day.

England will start the fifth day of the Test still trailing by 127.