Admittedly, there was a rain delay to the start of last night’s third Ashes Test in Headingley which may have dented viewer numbers for Nine.

Just 272,000 viewers tuned in to watch the start of the Australian innings last night according to OzTAM metro numbers.

Regardless, it still helped Nine to a Thursday night win, the network taking home 29.2 per cent of all of last night’s eyeballs (all channels).

Seven was second with 28.1 per cent, 10 had 20.6 per cent, the ABC did 13.3 per cent and SBS pulled 8.8 per cent.

Other standouts for Nine included its 6pm news (840,000), ACA (629,000), Hot Seat (460,000) and coverage of the NRL match between the Eels and the Bulldogs (311,000).

10’s best were The Bachelor (709,000), Gogglebox (669,000), The Project (461,000) and 10 News First (378,000).

Seven’s 6pm news was the most watched show of the night with 961,000. Home And Away had 591,000, The Chase did 551,000 and The Front Bar pulled 419,000.

In the battle for breakfast, Sunrise (285,000) beat Today (194,000).

The ABC’s night went this way: 7pm news (629,000), 7.30 (500,000), Escape From The City (386,000) and Sammy J (306,000).

SBS’ best was The Hunting with 235,000.