Century-maker Stephen Moore and his England Lions opening partner Joe Denly piled on the misery for Australia with a stand of 172 on the second day of the tour match at New Road.

Australian paceman Brett Lee struck back with two wickets in two balls shortly before the tea interval after his side had toiled without reward for nearly two sessions.

But Worcestershire opener Moore delighted his home crowd by moving to three figures off 147 balls with 14 fours and two sixes and he received a standing ovation

Moore's knock repaid the faith maintained in him by the Lions selectors after a poor start to the campaign with Worcestershire - a sharp contrast to 2008 when he was the highest scorer in the country with 1,451 runs.

He had managed only three half-centuries in the LV County Championship this season although two of them had come in his last appearance against Yorkshire.

But the 28-year-old showed his potential in front of England selector James Whitaker and saluted all parts of the ground after driving Lee to the boundary to reach his ton.

By tea Moore had moved onto 103 not out of the Lions total of 185 for two from 47 overs.

The South African born player 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 it was one of the few alarms for Moore and Kent player Denly as the Australian attack struggled to make an impact on a flat and slow pitch.

Moore brought up his fifty with a six over backward square leg off Mitchell Johnson off 81 balls and a single off Michael Clark took Denly to his half-century off 109 deliveries.

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 stand.

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

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 Stuart Clark quickly moved into double figures with 10 runs off the remaining five balls of Harmison's over including two boundaries.

Hauritz resisted for 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.