Australia have negotiated a potentially difficult fifth day's play, to record a 120-run win over England in the second Test, bowling the tourists out for 233 in the opening session.

With England needing 178 runs for victory and the home side needing six wickets, Australia got off to the perfect start, with Mitchell Starc trapping Chris Woakes (5) LBW with just the second ball of the day.

The danger man Joe Root was then caught behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood soon after without a run to his overnight score of 67.

Jonny Bairstow (36) proved the only resistance in the middle to lower order, as Moeen Ali (2), Craig Overton (7) and Stuart Broad (8) all fell cheaply and in quick succession.

Mitchell Starc finished with figures of 5-88, while Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood nabbed two wickets each and Pat Cummins claimed one.

Shaun Marsh was named man of the match for his brilliant unbeaten 126 in Australia's first innings.

The third Test begins on December 14 in Perth.

Second Test wrap-up: Australia win by 120 runs

First innings

Australia - 8/442 declared

Marsh 126*, Paine 57, Khawaja 53

Overton 3/105, Broad 2/72

England - 227

Overton 41*, Cook 37

Lyon 4/60, Starc 3/49

Second innings

Australia - 138

Khawaja 20, Starc 20

Anderson 5/43, Woakes 4/36

England - 233

Root 67, Stoneman 36, Bairstow 36

Starc 5/88, Lyon 2/45, Hazlewood 2/49