Steve Smith struck 14 boundaries and a six during his unbeaten knock of 92
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia captain Steve Smith led by example as he scored an unbeaten 92 after England made 403 in their first innings on the second day in Perth.
Starting off the day on 305/4, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow converted their 174-run partnership into a 237-run stand, during which Bairstow brought up his hundred, before Malan was dismissed by Nathan Lyon for a career-best 140, which came off 227 balls and included 19 boundaries and a six.
A quality hundred and what about the celebration from Jonny Bairstow!#Ashes #MagellanMilestones pic.twitter.com/kS6G8IM77I
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 15, 2017
Moeen Ali fell the very next over, while Chris Woakes only scored eight runs before being removed by Josh Hazlewood.
Bairstow went on to score 119 off 215 deliveries, which included 18 boundaries, before he was clean bowled by Mitchell Starc.
Classic Mitch #Ashes pic.twitter.com/eKyOd7bknC
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 15, 2017
Hazlewood then proceeded to take out Craig Overton before England were bowled out for 403 when Starc sent Stuart Broad packing for 12 runs.
Starc was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Hazlewood took three, Pat Cummins got two and Lyon chipped in with one.
Trailing by 403 runs, Australia got off to a solid start before opener David Warner was caught behind off the bowling of Overton for 22.
Warner’s opening partner, Cameron Bancroft, managed to make 25 runs before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Overton.
Bancroft was not given out initially, but England reviewed the decision and it worked in their favour as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and crashing into middle stump.
Despite having lost Warner and Bancroft in quick time, Smith and batsman Usman Khawaja came to the rescue with a 124-run partnership, during which both batsmen registered their fifties.
Usman Khawaja raises his bat after scoring his 10th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
However, Khawaja was unable to make the most of his half-century as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Woakes for 50, which came off 123 balls and included eight boundaries.
Khawaja opted to review the decision, but it went in vain as replays showed that it was umpire’s call on impact and height.
Smith and Shaun Marsh guided Australia safely to stumps as they forged an unbeaten 24-run partnership.
Smith finished on 92 off 122 balls, which included 14 boundaries and a six, while Marsh remained undefeated on seven off 36 deliveries, which included a solitary boundary.
Overton was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Woakes claimed one.
Australia ended day two on 203/3 and will continue batting on Saturday at at 10:30 local time or 02:30 GMT.