Smith celebrates after scoring his eighth Test century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Australia captain Steven Smith scored his fourth century of the series to keep the Baggy Greens in total control against India on the second day of the fourth Test in Sydney.
Smith was well supported by the batting duo of Shaun Marsh and Joe Burns, who made 73 and 58 respectively.
However, India pace bowler Mohammed Shami deserves some credit for his five-wicket haul.
Starting out the day on 348/2, Smith and Shane Watson converted their 144-run partnership into a 196-run partnership, during which Smith brought up his eighth Test century, before Watson was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at deep midwicket off the bowling of Shami.
Watson’s excellent knock of 81 came off 183 balls and included seven boundaries.
Smith went on to score 117, which came off 208 deliveries and included 15 boundaries, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Umesh Yadav.
Marsh and Burns stabilised the innings with a 114-run partnership, during which both batsmen registered their half-centuries, before Marsh was caught behind off the bowling of Shami.
Marsh’s superb knock of 73 came off 116 balls and included nine boundaries and a six.
Marsh raises his bat after bringing up his half-century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Burns ended up making a career-best 58, which came off 114 deliveries and included 10 boundaries, before he was caught by Lokesh Rahul at mid-on off the bowling of Shami.
Burns struck 10 boundaries during his career-best knock of 58
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Ryan Harris made a quickfire 25 before he was caught by Ashwin at deep backward square leg off to give Shami his second five-wicket haul.
Following Harris’ dismissal, Smith decided to declare since his side were on 572/7.
Shami was easily the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Yadav and Ashwin chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Shami finished with figures of 5-112 off 28.3 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Trailing by 572, it only took left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Starc three deliveries to dismiss India opener Murali Vijay for a duck.
Rohit Sharma and Rahul made up for the early loss of Vijay with an unbeaten 71-run partnership before stumps was called.
Sharma finished on 40 off 76 balls, which included three boundaries and two sixes, while Rahul remained undefeated on 31 off 71 deliveries, which included two boundaries.
Starc was the only bowler to take a wicket.
India ended day two on 71/1 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (previous day).