Leeds, England, August 18: A seven-wicket haul from Glenn McGrath left Australia firmly on course for victory in the fourth Ashes Test against England here Saturday.

McGrath ripped through England's first innings to finish with seven for 76 and reach the milestone of 350 Test wickets as the home were bundled out for 309.

At close Australia were well placed at 69 for one in their second innings, a lead of 207, when bad light stopped play on the third day at Headingley.

Matthew Hayden was 12 not out and first innings centurion Ricky Ponting, dropped on four, 30 not out.

But the day belonged to Australia pace bowler McGrath.

The 31-year-old New South Wales star, accurate as a spirit level, yet again enjoyed himself at England's expense, his final figures an impressive 30.2-9-76-7.

It was the 21st time he had taken five or more wickets in a Test innings and the fifth against England. McGrath's career tally had come in 74 matches at a miserly average of 21.28.

Australia, starting with a first innings advantage of 138 over England, were lucky not to lose opener Michael Slater on 13 when a miscued pull off Andrew Caddick trickled onto his stumps. However, English umpire David Shepherd called no-ball.

But Slater's luck ran out when on 16 a bottom edged intended cut saw him play on to hero Darren Gough, Australia 25 for one.

England needed to take every catch going if they wanted to prevent Australia going 4-0 up in the series.

But when Australia were 29 for one, Michael Atherton, at first slip, dropped a head high chance given by Ponting off Gough, despite getting both hands to the ball.

Earlier some flamboyant strokeplay from wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, 76 not out off just 83 balls including one six and nine fours, took England to their highest score of the series, surpassing their 294 in the first innings of the first Test at Edgbaston.

It was Stewart's best Test score since making 105 in his 100th Test aginst the West Indies at Old Trafford last year.

Stewart brought up his fifty with a magnificent back foot drive through cover off McGrath, reaching the landmark in 67 balls including eight fours.

The fast bowler responded by going around the wicket only to see Stewart step back and carve him over the offside for an extraordinary six.

It was an even more remarkable shot given the gathering gloom descending upon the Yorkshire headquaters.

After an hour and 40 minutes play were lost to bad light and rain, Stewart played a remarkable 'tennis smash' four off Lee.

But that was England's last hurrah. Last man Alan Mullally, dropped once by Simon Katich at short leg off McGrath, eventually went for a duck to the same combination.

England started the second session on 232 for five with Mark Ramprakash 33 not out and Stewart 24 not out.

Any worries they still had about avoiding the follow on disappeared in the first over after lunch when they got the 16 they needed off the hostile, but sometimes wayward pace of Lee.

Following a first ball single, Ramprakash hit a cover drive off Lee for four and after a three Stewart weighed in with a straight driven boundary before cutting him through point for another four to take England to 248, the exact total required to make Australia bat again.

But Lee had his revenge with the new ball.

Ramprakash, trying to uppercut fiercely over the slips, instead got a thick edge through to wicketkeeper Gilchrist.

Ramprakash's 40 had come off 102 balls including five fours and despite his rash departure he at least had helped England reach the relative safety of 252 for six.