UPDATE 1-Cricket-Australia lose wickets as England close in

* Flintoff brilliantly runs out Ponting * Three wickets fall for 16 runs By John Mehaffey LONDON, Aug 23 - Two dramatic run-outs in the space of six balls accounted for Australia's two best batsmen on the fourth day of the fifth and final Ashes test against England on Sunday. Captain Ricky Ponting was brilliantly run out by Andrew Flintoff for 66 with a direct hit on the stumps while Michael Clarke failed to score after straying out of his crease. At tea Australia, set a world record 546 to win, were 265 for five. The Australians, who need at least a draw to retain the Ashes, battled to 217 for two in the afternoon session when Michael Hussey pushed Steve Harmison to mid-on where Flintoff grabbed the ball and threw down the stumps at the striker's end with a magnificent throw. Ponting was narrowly short of his ground after hesitating briefly. The Australian skipper, playing probably his last Ashes test in England, had added 127 for the third wicket with Hussey in a stubborn partnership third wicket partnership. In the following over vice-captain Clarke, still to get off the mark, turned Graeme Swann on to the foot of Alastair Cook at short-leg. The ball ricocheted to Andrew Strauss running behind the stumps from first slip who flicked it on to the stumps. Marcus North struck two fours to reach 10 when he over-balanced trying to sweep Swann and Matt Prior completed the stumpings. TWO LBWS Australia, who began the day on 80 for no wicket, lost Simon Katich lbw to off-spinner Swann after 15 minutes for 43 padding up to a straight ball. Shane Watson (40) fell in similar fashion in the next over to an off-cutter from Stuart Broad. Broad and Swann took nine of the Australian first innings wickets. The variable bounce and the amount of spin extracted by Swann indicated an early finish but Ponting and Hussey, surrounded by a cluster of fielders, fought hard to take Australia to 171 for two at lunch. Ponting brought up his half-century after the interval and then received a let-off when a ball from Swann hit Paul Collingwood on the foot at first slip. The ball fell behind the fielder who was unable to gather the catch. Collingwood, England's best all-round fielder, also dropped Michael Hussey on 55 from a Swann delivery, a catch he would normally have accepted without any trouble. Hussey, whose 50 came from 123 balls of stubborn resistance, was on 77 at tea with Brad Haddin on 10. (Editing by Kevin Fylan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)