Sydney, Jan 7: Striking his fourth century of the series, captain Steven Smith helped Australia reach 420 for four at lunch on the second day of the final Test against India at the SCG.
Resuming the day on 348 for two, the hosts found it tough to get runs against a disciplined Indian attack but overnight batsmen Smith (117) and Shane Watson (81) stitched together a 196—run third—wicket partnership to keep the fight on.
The Virat Kohli—led India though did seem to learn its lessons from day one as the visitors only conceded 72 runs in the 30 overs bowled in the morning session and also got two ’set’ batsmen back in the pavilion.
Watson was the first to go, adding just 20 more runs to his overnight score, as Mohammed Shami (2—80) got his second wicket of the innings so far.
Watson was guilty of throwing away a Test hundred after he forced a pull of a short ball only to pick the fielder at deep mid—wicket.
Smith departed six overs later as the in—form batsman was also guilty of chasing a wide Umesh Yadav (1—119) delivery only get a feather touch and it was a regulation catch for wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha.
But Smith sure showed his class in his 208—ball stay at the crease as the batsman mixed the right dose of caution and aggression, his innings laced with 15 fours.
India though could have got another wicket in the 115th over of the innings through Ravichandran Ashwin (1—98) after the off—spinner forced Shaun Marsh (14 not out) to edge one to gully only to see a diving Murali Vijay drop the red cherry.
Joe Burns, who joined Marsh after Smith’s fall, has had a torrid time in the middle and is yet to open his account after facing 17 deliveries.
The Australian batsmen weren’t as prolific as the openers on day one morning as Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0—78) and Shami started the proceedings in a disciplined manner.
Of the two overnight batsmen, Smith was more comfortable at the crease, continuing his good run of form as Watson looked to graft his way to a big score, crossing the 150—mark in their partnership early in the session.
Ten overs into the day then, the 100th of the innings, Smith brought up his 8th Test hundred off 168 balls to a rousing reception from the SCG crowd as he paid tribute to late Phillip Hughes by twirling his bat towards the skies.
In doing so, the young captain matched South Africa’s Jacques Kallis as the only other player to score four consecutive hundreds in a four—match series. He also matched the feat of Sir Don Bradman, who scored four hundreds but in a five—match series.
Smith also became the second highest Australian run—scorer in a four—Test series. He fell short by nine runs of the highest score of 706 runs held by Ricky Ponting, scored against India in 2003—04.
The 400—mark came up in the 107th over. And while Smith was garnering all attention for his immense run—scoring, Watson looked to clear the ropes off Shami in the 108th over and only managed to hand out a regulation catch to Ashwin in the deep.
Six overs later, it became a double—blow as Yadav had Smith caught behind by Saha, the batsman flashing at a good length ball.
It could have been a third quick dismissal had Vijay, at short gully, held on to a low, one—handed catch to his right off Ashwin in the 115th over with Marsh (on 9*) the batsman to get a life. The batsman, along with Burns, then avoided any further loss as Suresh Raina (0—39) bowled the last over before lunch.
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