by Our Sports Desk

Alastair Cook’s departure to the last ball before tea put the pressure on England at The Oval yesterday, following an 11th Test century from Australia’s captain-in-waiting Steve Smith.

Smith, who made 143, was the cornerstone of Australia’s 481 all out, with Adam Voges (76) and number nine Mitchell Starc (58) also making contrasting half-centuries on day two of this fifth Test.

But it was when Cook was bowled off-stump by a Nathan Lyon off-break which turned sharply from round the wicket that England were left with plenty to ponder on 30 for one in reply.

They started this final match of the series with the Ashes already in the bag and aspirations of a fourth Test victory over Australia in a home summer for the first time in their history.

A 4-1 success would also take them above Australia into second in the world Test rankings — but it will have to be done the hard way, after Cook put the tourists in only for his bowlers to find the going tougher than anticipated.

Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Steven Finn eventually shared nine wickets — with Stuart Broad able to follow up his brilliant career-best eight for 15 at Trent Bridge only with a back-to-reality none for 59 here.

England’s response needed solidity at the top of order and appeared to have it from Cook and Adam Lyth until Lyon had his say.

Smith had begun a much brighter second morning with 78 to his name out of 287 for three and moved to his hundred in 197 balls — having hit 12 fours and a six.

It was not until the fourth-wicket stand was worth 146 that the hosts had something to celebrate, Voges undone by seam movement from Stokes which pinned him LBW despite his recourse to DRS.

Smith had 92 and appeared to be on his way to the very next ball — flailing an edge behind off Finn, from the Vauxhall End.

It transpired, however, that not only had a poor delivery been met with a poor shot but umpire Aleem Dar had failed to detect a long overstep for no-ball.

Smith was therefore reprieved en route to his second hundred in as many appearances on this ground, where he reached three figures for the first time in his Test career two years ago.

Mitch Marsh was unable to mark his recall with worthwhile runs, fencing Finn high to second slip.

Then in the over before lunch, Moeen struck twice in three balls — Peter Nevill gloving a shovel shot behind to an alert Jos Buttler and Mitchell Johnson missing an off-break to be bowled off-stump on the defence.

After lunch, Australia lost Smith as he edged a shot on to his stumps, Stokes pinned Starc LBW from round the wicket and then Lyth pulled off a fine catch in the gully as Peter Siddle’s departure to Finn ended the innings at last.

As the Star went to press, England were 101-8.