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Dominant final session puts England in box seat

A commanding performance with the pink ball from England's attack has put them on the precipice of a commanding win in Adelaide

An inspired spell of fast bowling by Chris Woakes has saved England's blushes after an embarrassing pink-ball batting collapse against a Cricket Australia XI.

The tourists lost 7-45, including four wickets for just three runs, on Friday's third day of the Adelaide Oval tour game.

Woakes rips through CA XI under lights

But after setting the inexperienced CA XI 268 runs to win, a fiery Woakes helped reduce the home side to 7-25.

The CA XI limped to 7-70 at stumps with Matt Short unbeaten on 28 and Gurinder Sandhu not out 17 - the only Australians to reach double-figures.

Woakes at one stage had 3-3 but finished with 4-17 from 10 overs and fellow quick Craig Overton took 2-10.

Simon Milenko Five Wickets Haul

Woakes' spell helped cover the damage from England's stunning batting crash earlier when they slipped from 0-79 to 7-124.

England lost six wickets in a 10-over span as Tasmanian seamer Simon Milenko (5-34) ran amok.

Only a fightback from Jonny Bairstow (61no from 66 balls) lifted England to 207 all out, with injured paceman Jake Ball not taking the field as he awaited scan results on his sprained right ankle.

England's slump began with the dismissal of opener Alastair Cook, whose scratchy start to the Ashes tour continued, making 32 from 85 balls.

Cook began his tour with a second-ball duck last weekend against a West Australian XI and made only 15 in the first innings in Adelaide.

After the veteran lost his wicket, he was soon followed back the changeroom by his opening partner Mark Stoneman , who made 51, his third consecutive half-century on tour.

Captain Joe Root (one), Dawid Malan (five), James Vince (29), Chris Woakes (two) and Craig Overton (0) fell in rapid succession.

Stoneman makes it three half-centuries in a row

Bairstow then launched an aggressive fightback before running out of partners - the last man out was Jimmy Anderson, who has been confirmed as England's vice-captain in the absence of regular deputy Ben Stokes.

Stokes remains at home pending the outcome of a police investigation into his street fight in late September.

Root's side has already lost paceman Steven Finn, who has flown home because of a knee injury - his replacement Tom Curran arrived in Adelaide on Friday.

And spinning allrounder Moeen Ali is yet to feature in the warm-up matches as he struggles with a side strain. 

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21