Sept. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The destination of the Ashes trophy remains in the balance after England built a lead of 133 runs and the Australians took another four wickets today, including two in two balls for Glenn McGrath.

As sunshine burnt through the clouds at The Oval, London, England advanced to 127-5 at lunch after McGrath had dismissed captain Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell in the 16th over, and Shane Warne accounted for Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff. Kevin Pietersen was dropped without scoring, and again on 15 before progressing to 35 not out. Paul Collingwood is yet to score.

England, leading the series 2-1, is seeking to prevent Australia batting again to secure the draw it needs for a first series win in nine attempts. Australia must bowl England out and chase down its lead to level at 2-2 and retain the 123-year-old trophy. More than 60 overs remain, weather permitting.

A draw is a 4/7 chance at William Hill, while an Australian win is rated a 6/4 shot.

McGrath, the second-highest wicket-taking fast bowler of all time, had Vaughan caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 45 and Bell taken at slip by Warne to leave England teetering at 67- 3 midway thorough the morning session. Both balls pitched on off stump and straightened, and Bell failed to score for the second time in the match.

Warne Haul

Trescothick made 33 before he became Warne's eighth victim of the match. The leg spinner was successful with a second leg before wicket appeal against the left-hander to move clear of Dennis Lillee as the most successful bowler of all time against England with 168 wickets. The ball pitched in footmarks wide of off-stump and turned almost three feet. Television replays suggested the ball would have clipped leg stump.

Warne extended his record by claiming the prize wicket of Flintoff, who drive the ball in the air back to the bowler for 8.

The arrival of England No.5 Pietersen after Bell's wicket did little to calm the nerves of the 23,000 spectators in the southeast of the U.K. capital.

First umpire Billy Bowden rejected McGrath's appeal for a hat-trick when the ball arced off his shoulder into the slips on his first delivery. In the next over, Pietersen edged Warne and the ball flicked Gilchrist's glove, ricocheted into Hayden's leg and dropped to the grass.

He then survived a run out attempt when Michael Clarke, fielding at wide mid-on, shattered the stumps as he took a quick single. The decision was referred to the television umpire and the signal of `not out' on screens around the ground brought the biggest cheer of the day. Pietersen was then dropped by Warne, who spilled a straightforward chance with both hands off Brett Lee as the ball arrived at chest-height.

Red Bull

The South Africa-born player, who drinks a can of caffeine- fueled energy drink Red Bull before batting, also struck Warne for two sixes over midwicket.

In the final over before lunch, Lee twice struck Pietersen with bouncers, prompting medical treatment, before he edged another short ball high over the slips and almost fell back onto him stumps.

Bad light deprived Australia of 56 overs yesterday after 89 were lost the previous two days. The clouds were lighter today and the sun later broke through, an improvement that is likely to help the batsmen.

After overnight rain, the outfield was damp but the 22-yard pitch remained as dry as it had been the first four days. The only signs of deterioration were the footmarks targeted by Warne.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London at at rmills5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 12, 2005 07:46 EDT