London: Australia managed to take an upper hand in the Final Test being played at Oval, as they posted a huge total of 492 runs on the board for the loss of nine wickets and then called out England to bat. In reply, England managed to add 32 runs without the loss of any wicket. Steve Smith was the highlight of the day as he scored his maiden hundred with a blistering six off Jonathan Trott over long-on and carried his bat as he remained not out on 138.
English openers, Alastair Cook and Joe Root remained not out on 17 and 13 respectively.
Earlier in the day, Steve Smith guided Australia with his first Test century to 397-6 at tea on the second day of the fifth Test of Ashes series. He remained not out at 112 from 217 balls that he faced till the afternoon session. His century was studded with two sixes and 15 fours.
James Anderson also proved his mettle on the second day as he ended up with the figures of 4-95, he added couple of wickets to his Wednesday's tally. He first got Peter Siddle out for 23 and then sent off Ryan Harris who added crucial 33 runs while batting at number eleven.
Trott also picked up the wicket of Brad Haddin, who contributed 30 runs to his team’s score.
Rain played spoilsport as the morning session was washed away but when the game resumed at 2:30 under over-cast condition, it allowed Anderson to show his skills with the ball and he dismissed Siddle who just managed to add five runs to his overnight score of 18.
But Smith played brilliantly. Though he started off his innings with a lofted shot, thereafter he did well to play a composed innings and went on to add 66 runs on first day. He was looking very relaxed and was able to negate the English pace attack. He went past his previous best score of 92 with a brilliant cut-shot and after few balls hammered the change-in bowler in Trott for six to bring up his ton in the 23 innings that he has batted so far.
Trott came back strongly in very same over and dismissed Haddin who simply dragged a ball on to his stumps.
Score:
England 1st innings — 0/32 (Alastair Cook 17*, Joe Root13* )
Australia 1st innings— 9/492 (Steve Smith 138*, Shane Watson 176, Ryan Harris 33, Brad Haddin 30, James Anderson 4/95, Graeme Swann 2/95, Jonathan Trott 1/12)
