Smith celebrates after scoring his sixth Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Australia stand-in captain Steven Smith scored yet another century to give his side a slight advantage over India on the third day of the second Test in Brisbane.

Smith was well supported by left-arm pace duo of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc as they both made half-centuries.

Starting out the day on 221/4, Smith and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh only added 11 runs to their 13-run partnership before Marsh was clean bowled by Ishant Sharma for 11.

Brad Haddin only made six runs before he was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg off the bowling of Varun Aaron.

Smith and Johnson stabilised the innings with a 148-run partnership, during which Smith brought up his sixth Test century and Johnson his half-century, before Johnson was caught behind off the bowling of Sharma.

Johnson’s entertaining knock of 88 came off 93 balls and included 13 boundaries and a six.

Johnson hammered 13 boundaries and a six during his innings of 88

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Smith went on to score 133 off 191 deliveries, which included 13 boundaries and two sixes, before he was cleaned up by Sharma.

Starc and Nathan Lyon steadied the innings once again with a 56-run partnership before Lyon was caught by Rohit Sharma at mid-on off the bowling of Aaron for 23.

Starc and debutant Josh Hazlewood put together a last-gasp 52-run partnership, during which Starc recorded his half-century, before he was clean bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin.

Starc’s excellent knock of 52 came off 59 balls and included six boundaries.

Starc stunned India with a quickfire knock of 52

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Hazlewood remained stranded on 32, which came off 50 deliveries and included seven boundaries.

Sharma and Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets apiece, while Aaron and Ashwin chipped in with two wickets each as Australia were bowled out for 505, which gave them a 97-run lead.

Trailing by 97 runs, India got off to a solid start before Murali Vijay was clean bowled by Starc for 28.

Shikhar Dhawan and Pujara amassed an unbeaten 30-run partnership before stumps was called.

Dhawan finished on 26 off 65 balls, which included two boundaries, while Pujara remained undefeated on 15 off 35 deliveries, which included two boundaries as well.

Starc was the only bowler to take a wicket.

India ended day three on 71/1 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:00 local time or 00:00 GMT.