Ashes 2015 lunch report: Moeen Ali fights back to take the fight to Australia after Steve Smith reaches his century

Lunch: Australia 376/7

Moeen Ali celebrates taking the wicket of Peter Nevill shortly before lunch (Getty Images)

England fought back minutes before lunch on the second day of the fifth Investec Test. With Australia’s captain elect, Steve Smith having reached his 11 Test hundred two wickets in the final over of the morning left the tourists at 376 for seven.

If this was hardly reeling it at least showed that England were ready for the fray after distinctly lacking gusto earlier in the day. Australia lost four wickets in all after starting the day on 287 for 3. They would still feel they were in the stronger position.

Smith needed 65 balls to score the 22 runs he needed after being unbeaten on 78 overnight and was also given a reprieve after apparently being caught at slip on 92.

He was unbeaten on 110 at lunch with 13 fours and two sixes, the second of which he hit down the ground off Moeen Ali immediately after reaching his century. It was his fifth against England and his second in this series following his 215 at Lord’s.

But England thought they had dismissed him when he played a careless forcing shot at a wide ball from Steve Finn, which he went to Jos Buttler. Smith, having swished his bat in annoyance, was more than halfway off the ground when replays showed that Finn had overstepped the crease by at least three inches and a no ball was duly called.

It would have been Finn’s 100 Test wicket and he had been similarly deprived at Trent Bridge when he had Peter Nevill caught at slip. He eventually reached the landmark when Mitchell Marsh played a poor shot at a ball outside off and was caught at slip.

Steve Finn celebrates taking the wicket of Mitch Marsh (Getty Images)

England had earlier dismissed Adam Voges after a fourth wicket partnership with Smith of 146. He was lbw to a full swinging ball from Ben Stokes.

Moeen who has bowled with moderate effect had Nevill caught down the leg side as he gloved a wide ball and then bowled Mitchell Johnson with one that went past the bat.