Australia vs India 2014/15 - 4th Test, Day 2, Lunch: Steven Smith propels Australia to 420/4
Sydney, Jan 7 - Australian batsmen continued to add to their tally by reaching 420/4 at lunch on day 2 of the fourth and final Test against India here Wednesday.
However, Indian bowlers showed some rare discipline as they only allowed 72 runs from 30 overs, taking two wickets in the morning session as Australia resumed the day at 348/2 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Unlike the first day when runs came at will, the pitch got slower helping spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (1/98), who tightened the run flow. The result was the final hour of play gave only 24 runs with India picking up two wickets.
Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Steven Smith (117), who resumed the day at 82 not out, went on to score his fourth century of the series and eighth overall as he was given good support by all-rounder Shane Watson (81) at the other end.
Smith scored 15 boundaries in his 208-ball knock.
The duo eventually ended up scoring a 196-run third wicket partnership which finally came to an end when Watson pulled a short Mohammed Shami delivery, only to be caught by Ashwin at deep midwicket.
Smith too fell soon when he nicked an Umesh Yadav delivery to keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
Shaun Marsh (14 not out) and Joe Burns (0) were at the crease when lunch was called.
Australia 1st innings
Chris Rogers b Mohammed Shami 95
David Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 101
Shane Watson c Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 81
Steven Smith c Saha b Yadav 117
Shaun Marsh batting 14
Joe Burns batting 0
Extras (lb 6, w 6) 12
Total (for four wickets in 120 overs) 420
Fall of wickets: 1-200 (Warner, 44.5 overs), 2-204 (Rogers, 45.5), 3-400 (Watson, 107.2), 4-415 (Smith, 113.3)
Bowling
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 26-4-78-0
Umesh Yadav 23-4-119-1
Mohammed Shami 23-3-80-2
Ravichandran Ashwin 37-7-98-1
Suresh Raina 11-2-39-0
Match details
Toss: Australia chose to bat
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and Richard Kettleborough (England)
TV umpire: Simon Fry (Australia)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)
Reserve umpire: Gerard Abood (Australia)