Australia failed to make the most of a six-wicket haul from paceman Mitchell Starc as a half-century by captain Michael Clarke kept the tourists propped up on day three of the Ashes warm-up match against Essex at Chelmsford.
Starc had been somewhat erratic on a first outing in England on Thursday, but produced a late flurry to peg back Essex's attack before returning on Friday to blitz the tail with three wickets in four overs at the end of the morning session as the hosts were left on 414 at lunch, some 148 behind.
In reply, Clarke - out for a duck in the first innings - produced a composed 77 to steady the tourists, who at one stage were on 76 for four. After their skipper departed, Australia reached made 212 for eight, a lead of 360.
As the battle for places in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff hots up, veteran bowler Ryan Harris remains a major doubt and will undergo further scans on the knee problems which made him a late withdrawal at Chelmsford.
Essex resumed on 299 for three, following a superb century from opener Tom Westley.
Captain Ravi Bopara, on 86 overnight, continued into treble figures, his ton coming from 165 balls with 13 boundaries, before Jesse Ryder (10) clipped spinner Nathan Lyon to backward square leg.
When al l-rounder Marsh had Bopara, part of England's 2009 Ashes squad, caught in the slips for 107, Essex were five down for 332.
After Ryan ten Doeschate hoisted Nathan Lyon out of the ground into the River Can, at the 11:55am drinks break, there was a perfectly-observed minute's silence in memory of those who died in the Tunisia shootings.
The charge was halted when Ten Doeschate was caught behind off Starc after a rapid 36 before Matt Salisbury had his stumps removed second ball by the New South Wales quick.
Starc picked up his fifth wicket when James Foster (23) was caught at gully, and with Nick Browne not batting after dislocating a finger in the field, the innings was wrapped up when Tom Moore's stumps were sent flying by Starc for a seven-ball duck, giving Starc figures of six for 51.
Essex made an early breakthrough in the afternoon session when Porter bowled David Warner for four.
Chris Rogers, hoping to return to the Test side after sitting out the West Indies tour because of concussion, was caught behind off Salisbury for 32 and Australia were 58 for two.
Adam Voges was adjudged lbw to Nijjar for just one and the tourists were soon 76 for four when Shane Watson went the same way in the next over by Ten Doeschate for six.
Australia pushed on to 97 for four by tea, but Marsh was left smashing his bat into the ground in frustration when he cut a delivery from Salisbury on to his stumps for 37.
After taking a blow to the hand, Clarke was eventually bowled by spinner Nijjar for 77.
Australia were 183 for seven when Peter Nevill was caught in the slips off Bopara for 12, while Starc (13) then holed out to mid-off to set up an interesting final day. Peter Siddle was 13 not out, with Josh Hazelwood on nine.
Source: PA
