Harris, Johnson bowl Australia to series-levelling win at Perth

Harris, Johnson bowl Australia to series-levelling win at Perth

Australia removed England's last five wickets early on Sunday to win the third Ashes Test in Perth by 267 runs and level the five-test series at 1-1.

The home side surged to victory on the final morning, claiming the last five wickets in less than an hour of play and only 10 overs.

Australia v England, 3rd Test, Perth, 4th day

Australia 268 (Johnson 62, Hussey 61) and 309 (Hussey 116, Watson 95, Tremlett 5-87) beat England 187 (Bell 53, Strauss 52, Johnson 6-38) and 123 (Harris 6-47) by 267 runs

England had resumed on 81-5 needing another 310 runs to seal an unlikely win and take the Ashes home for the first time in 24 years, but paceman Ryan Harris needed little time to snuff out the tourists' hopes. England finished all out on 123, with Harris taking 6-47.

The result sets up a blockbuster Boxing Day Test at the MCG in Melbourne.

Michael Clarke captained the Australian side on the final day, with skipper Ricky Ponting off the field after suffering a finger injury late on the third day.

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England's total of 123 is the seventh-lowest ever at the WACA, and the second-lowest by England. Their lowest at the ground is 112 in 1998, while they also scored 123 in 1995.

Perth remains easily England's worst Test venue - their win-loss ratio and batting average is the lowest among grounds where they've played at least ten Tests. It's Australia's fourth-best ground in terms of win-loss ratio.

Mitchell Johnson has taken 30 wickets in four Tests at the WACA at an average of 18.13, which is the fourth-best among bowlers who've taken at least 15 wickets at this ground.

Australia's 267-run win is their sixth by a margin of 200-plus runs in Perth. Three of those wins have come against England.

The match average of 22.17 is the fifth-lowest in a Test in Perth, and the lowest since 1998. Three of the top five have been in Tests involving England.