By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent, Melbourne

Finally, England's batsmen have shown a glimpse of the resolve and resilience their supporters have been looking for all winter.

It is, unfortunately, too little, too late but their total of 387 all out has at least taken a Test match into the final day for the first time in the series.

It is hard to forecast anything other than a comfortable fourth victory for Australia

Michael Vaughan led the way with his sixth - and I think his best - century of the year.

Bearing in mind the quality of the attack he was facing, he played absolutely magnificently and scored his runs at a remarkable rate.

Pulling ferociously, and driving fluently, he rattled up 19 fours and three sixes in an innings of 145 from only 212 balls.

It was only over confidence that brought about his downfall when he tried to run Stuart MacGill to third man and was very well caught by the unsighted Martin Love at slip.

Vaughan was well supported by Robert Key who, as at Perth, showed a great deal of composure in his first Test half-century.

Agnew believes it was Vaughan's innings of 2002

His inexperience was his undoing as he casually drove at the first ball following a drinks break and was caught at slip for 52.

John Crawley and Craig White also put together a stand of 55.

And just as we were contemplating the possibility of England setting Australia a seriously testing target, they were both dismissed in successive overs.

Crawley played on to Lee for 34 and White was caught behind off the persevering MacGill for 21.

The leg-spinner polished off the innings to finish with five for 152 from 48 overs - a spell that was made to look expensive only because of Vaughan's brilliance.

It was also a spell that served to remind everyone that were it not for Shane Warne, MacGill would have played in many more tests for Australia.

Small targets create their own unique pressure, and Australia's recent record at chasing runs is not terribly impressive.

However, England are missing the services of their most successful bowler, White who has a side strain.

And with the pitch still playing extremely easily, it is hard to forecast anything other than a comfortable fourth victory for Australia on the final morning.