London, August 21

Steve Smith's patient 143 guided Australia to a large first-innings total of 481 all out on the second day of the final Ashes Test match against England at The Oval on Friday.

Spinner Nathan Lyon bowled England captain Alastair Cook for 22 just before tea as the hosts reached 30-1 in reply. Smith — who on 92 nicked a wide delivery from Steve Finn to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler but was reprieved when replays showed it was a no ball — put his side in control of the match with his marathon effort.

He shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 146 with Adam Voges, who made 76, to give Australia a strong position from which to push for a consolation victory after they relinquished the Ashes by losing the fourth Test. Resuming on 287-3, Smith waited until his 24th delivery to add to his overnight 78 while Voges played more freely. The experienced right-hander cut Stuart Broad for four to reach his second fifty in a row and had hit 12 fours when he misjudged a fierce inswinger from Ben Stokes that kept low and was trapped lbw.

Smith flashed hard at the very next delivery from Finn and Buttler took the catch but the bowler immediately returned to the crease to check his footmark and replays confirmed that he had overstepped by several inches. Finn looked distraught but he did claim a wicket, Mitchell Marsh, on three, edging a lifting delivery to Ian Bell at second slip. Smith calmly regrouped and clipped Moeen Ali for a single to bring up his 11th Test century, a patient effort spanning more than five hours at the crease.

Peter Nevill fell for 18, feathering a catch to Buttler down the leg-side off Moeen and the spinner bowled Mitchell Johnson for a second-ball duck just before lunch. Smith's long vigil ended when he dragged a ball from Finn on to his stumps and he departed to a standing ovation having hit two sixes and 17 fours.

Mitchell Starc struck a six and nine fours in a breezy 58 off 52 balls before he fell lbw to Stokes and Peter Siddle was caught by a diving Adam Lyth at gully off Finn to end the innings. Cook and Lyth made an assured start to the England reply before the captain was bowled by a fine turning delivery from Lyon. Lyth was eight not out at the interval.