NEW DELHI: Steve Smith played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 85, leading Australia to a formidable total of 339-5 against England on the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's in London on Wednesday.
In favorable bowling conditions, England captain Ben Stokes chose to field after winning the toss, hoping to make early breakthroughs and level the series.
However, David Warner and Usman Khawaja managed to build a resilient opening partnership of 73 runs, benefiting from some moments of fortune.
Although Josh Tongue eventually dismissed both batters, Marnus Labuschagne contributed with 47 runs, while Travis Head played a rapid innings of 77, putting Australia in a commanding position.
England captain Joe Root provided a glimmer of hope by taking the wickets of Head and Cameron Green in the same over, giving England a late boost. Nevertheless, it was undeniably Australia's day.
The match encountered a disruption after one over when two Just Stop Oil protesters ran onto the pitch, spraying orange powder on the outfield.
However, Warner and Khawaja remained focused and unperturbed. They successfully negotiated testing spells from James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Following a brief rain delay, Warner reached his fifty with a six off Tongue before Khawaja was bowled by the same bowler for 17, just before lunch.
1/10:2nd Ashes Test: Smith stars for Australia before Root revives England
Getty Images
2/10:Steve Smith
<p>Steve Smith's unbeaten 85 was the centrepiece of Australia's impressive 339-5 on the opening day of the second Test against England at Lord's on Wednesday. </p>Getty Images
3/10:Joe Root
<p>But off-spinner Joe Root took two wickets in four balls late in the day to check the progress of Ashes-holders Australia, 1-0 up in the five-match series. </p>Reuters
4/10:Australia on top
<p>Australia were in command at 316-3, despite being sent into bat by England captain Ben Stokes in overcast conditions and on a green tinged-pitch that promised to aid his five-strong pace attack. </p>Getty Images
5/10:Travis Head
<p>But Travis Head, scoring at better than a run-a-ball, then charged down the pitch only to be beaten by a sharply turning Root delivery with Jonny Bairstow completing an excellent stumping. </p>Getty Images
6/10:Bazball
<p>Head was out for 77 following a stand of 118 with Smith where England were given a taste of their own 'Bazball' medicine. </p>AFP
7/10:Cameron Green
<p>But three balls later, Australia's 316-4 became 316-5 when all-rounder Cameron Green fell for a duck, slicing Root to James Anderson at mid-off. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Lone spinner
<p>At stumps Root, the only spinner in the attack after England dropped Moeen Ali, had figures of 2-19 from eight overs. </p>AFP
9/10:Josh Tongue
<p>Fast bowler Josh Tongue removed Usman Khawaja and David Warner, who made a valuable 66, in a return of 2-88 in 18 overs. </p>Getty Images
10/10:Marnus Labuschagne
<p>But the day belonged to Australia, with No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne making a useful 47. </p>ReutersEach batter was dropped in the slips, Khawaja offering a very difficult chance to Root and Warner a sharp one to Ollie Pope.
Warner lived dangerously after lunch too, particularly against Tongue who continued his impressive spell by bowling the left-hander through the gate for 66 with a fine swinging delivery to reduce Australia to 96-2.
1/9:Just Stop Oil protesters halt second Ashes Test at Lord's
2/9:Bairstow carries invader off the field
<p>England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow wrestled a protester to the ground as climate activists briefly interrupted play on the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Wednesday.<br /><br /><br /></p>Getty Images
3/9:Protesters release orange powder
<p>After the first over bowled by England's James Anderson, the men emerged from the stands and moved towards the square sprinkling the group's trademark orange powder before being tackled by security staff and players.<br /><br /><br /></p>Reuters
4/9:Bairstow acts promptly
<p>Bairstow picked up one of the men and carried him off the field before dropping him to the ground outside the boundary markers.<br /></p>Reuters
5/9:Stokes-Warner stop the other protester
<p>England captain Ben Stokes and Australia batter David Warner corralled the other protester. Some orange powder was released but only on the grass, away from the pitch.<br /></p>Reuters
6/9:Protesters booed by spectators at Lord's
<p>A third protester was tackled before making it onto the outfield. Spectators booed the protesters as they were led away by stewards.<br /></p>AP
7/9:Play resumes after brief delay
<p>Following a delay of several minutes while the orange powder was removed by ground-staff, play resumed with Broad bowling from the Nursery End.<br /></p>Reuters
8/9:'Three people are taken into custody'
<p>"We are aware of protesters on the Lord’s Cricket Ground pitch today. Police have arrested three people and taken them into custody," the Metropolitan Police said.<br /></p>Reuters
9/9:Just Stop Oil disrupted other sporting events too
<p>Just Stop Oil, which wants an end to new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, have disrupted other sporting events in England this year, including the Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship.<br /><br /><br /></p>APSmith emerged from the pavilion to a chorus of boos but he settled down quickly and silenced the crowd with two sumptuous drives off Broad to the cover boundary.
Broad almost exacted swift revenge when Smith was given out caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in the same over for 24 but the batsman reviewed and the decision was overturned.
Labuschagne started slowly before finding his rhythm with three fours off one Broad over and when Stokes brought himself on to bowl the Australian right-hander stroked him to the boundary three times.
Broad thought he had trapped Labuschagne lbw, the umpire raising his finger before the batsman was reprieved, but the Australian departed shortly after tea, feathering a catch to Bairstow off Ollie Robinson.
Head joined Smith and accelerated the scoring rate as the England bowlers tired in the final session.
Smith passed fifty and Head reached his half-century off only 48 balls, the pair peppering the boundary rope all around the ground.
Head was stumped off Root by Bairstow after scoring 77 off 73 balls and three deliveries later Cameron Green aimed an ugly swipe at the spinner to give Anderson a simple catch at mid-off.
It was a positive end to a poor day for England in which Stokes looked short of ideas and used few of the innovative field settings which have been a feature of his captaincy.
He bowled only three overs and England's hopes of winning back the Ashes are fading after six days of the series.
(With inputs from Reuters)
