test2wa

The Ashes

Brett Lee staked a massive claim to be part of the first Ashes Test with a devastating spell against England Lions at New Road.

Lions batsman Stephen Moore had threatened to dominate the second day with a century on his home ground during an opening stand of 172 with Joe Denly in reply to the tourists' first innings total of 358.

But Lee altered the complexion of the game with a five-wicket burst, including Moore for 120 as he bowled with great accuracy and sustained hostility.

The 31-year-old has not played a Test since facing South Africa in Melbourne in December after undergoing ankle surgery and Mitchell Johnson has effectively replaced him as Australia's number one strike bowler.

Lee went into the current four-day clash at Worcester not guaranteed to start the opening Test in Cardiff next Wednesday and vying for a place with fellow paceman Stuart Clark and spinner Nathan Hauritz.

But Lee showed he can still be a force to be reckoned with as Denly, Ian Bell, Vikram Solanki, Moore and Eoin Morgan were all dismissed in a deadly seven-over spell.

His impact could have been even greater as Moore was fortunate to survive an lbw shout before he had scored to the first delivery of Lee's new ball spell.

Television replays suggested that the delivery struck Moore's pad in front of the stumps before it hit the inside edge of his bat.

But in contrast the remainder of the Australian attack, including Johnson, laboured to make any impression on an unresponsive and slow wicket.

Moore also had another let off on 41 when wicket-keeper Brad Haddin spilled a chance after he had edged a delivery from Clark.

In between, the Worcestershire batsman played a series of fine shots in moving to three figures off 147 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.

It was his first century since the LV County Championship match with Middlesex at Kidderminster last September.

Aussie spinner Nathan Hauritz again failed to impress, with Moore and Denly both lofting him for six, and it needed the return of Lee to break the opening stand and bring the tourists back into the game.

Denly (66) was bowled by a delivery which reverse swung and Lions skipper Bell was trapped lbw for a first ball duck.

Solanki survived the hat-trick ball but made only eight being being bowled off his pads by Lee.

Moore's fine innings came to an end on 120 when he tried to pull Lee and was caught off a top edge by Haddin running back to partially make amends for his earlier error.

In total Moore had faced 176 balls and struck 15 fours and two sixes.

Lee completed his nap hand when Morgan (four) became his second lbw success and at that juncture the Lions had lost five wickets for 37 runs in 12 overs.

But Worcestershire wicket-keeper Steven Davies and Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid redressed the balance with a sixth-wicket stand of 86.

Davies made 53 with seven fours before he edged part-time spinner Marcus North to Michael Clark at slip but Rashid finished unbeaten on 36 out of 302 for six from 81 overs.

The Lions had needed only 6.4 overs to polish off the final two wickets of the Australian first innings on a scorching morning.

Mike Hussey, who had resumed on 143 not out, brought up his 150 with a cover drive for two off Graham Onions but it was to be his last scoring shot.

Steve Harmison ended Hussey's 234 ball innings, which contained 19 fours, when he bowled the left hander with a delivery of fullish length.

Last man Clark quickly moved into double figures with ten runs off the remaining five balls of Harmison's over including two boundaries.

Hauritz resisted more than hour for 11 before he attempted to pull Onions and sliced a catch to Denly at point.

Harmison finished with four for 80 from 25 overs and Onions three for 70 from 23.4 overs.