Melbourne, Australia: Murali Vijay brought up his fourth half century of the series as India reached 108-1 at stumps in reply to Australia's daunting first-innings 530 after Steven Smith fell eight runs short of a double century on the second day of the third test Saturday. Smith snapped up the catch of Shikhar Dhawan at third slip off Ryan Harris (1-19) for the only wicket of the third session after the Australia captain earlier smashed an imperious 192 for his highest first class score, his third century of the series and seventh of his test career.
Vijay was 55 not out with Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on 25 at the end of play.The Indian batsmen made a watchful start to their chase, content to leave the ball rather than risk a wicket before stumps. Pujara got a lucky escape while on 12 when an edge carried to Brad Haddin, who fumbled the catch.
Smith was earlier ably assisted by Brad Haddin (55) and fast bowler Harris (74), who brought up entertaining half centuries to help the Australians add 271 runs to their overnight score. With India's field ranged against the boundary, Smith was the last Australian out, bowled middle stump playing at an Umesh Yadav (3-130) ball to usher tea. Smith's knock came off 305 balls with 15 boundaries and two sixes.
Harris scored his third test half century in style with eight fours and a six before he was trapped lbw while attempting a big sweep off Ravichandran Ashwin (3-134). Nathan Lyon added 11 and was bowled by Shami. Smith and Haddin turned an evenly poised match in Australia's favor with an aggressive start to the morning, sharing a 110-run, sixth-wicket partnership until Haddin (55) offered a bottom edge to India wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni off Mohammed Shami (4-138).
Smith added another 50 runs with Mitchell Johnson, who scored 28 before being stumped off Ravichandran Ashwin (3-134) shortly before lunch. After resuming the day on 72 with Australia at 259-5, Smith brought up his century with a four down the leg side off Shami, raising his bat and helmet in celebration before an appreciative Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd. The Australia captain's 100 came off 191 balls with nine boundaries and a six.
Haddin proved an able partner at the other end, seeing off a barrage of short balls from the Indian pacemen to reach his half century off 75 balls with seven boundaries a and a six.Smith's previous highest first-class score was 177 scored for New South Wales against Tasmania. He has now scored 1,132 test runs this year, eclipsing Warner's 1,096.
Australia can clinch the four-test series and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a win or draw in Melbourne after a 48-run win in the first test and a four-wicket victory last week in the second test at Brisbane.
Australia (1st innings): C. Rogers c Dhoni b Shami 57, D. Warner c Dhawan b Yadav 0, S. Watson lbw b Ashwin 52, S. Smith b Yadav 192, S. Marsh c Dhoni b Shami 32, J. Burns c Dhoni b Yadav 13, B. Haddin c Dhoni b Shami 55, M. Johnson st Dhoni b Ashwin 28, R. Harris lbw b Ashwin 74, N. Lyon b Shami 11, J. Hazlewood (not out) 0. Extras (b1, lb9, w1, nb5) 16. Total (in 142.3 overs) 530.
FoW: 1-0, 2-115, 3-115, 4-184, 5-216, 6-326, 7-376, 8-482, 9-530.
Bowling: Ishant 32-7-104-0, Yadav 32.3-3-130-3, Shami 29-4-138-4, Ashwin 44-9-134-3, Vijay 5-0-14-0.
India (1st innings): M. Vijay (batting) 55, S. Dhawan c Smith b Harris 28, C. Pujara (batting) 25. Extras 0. Total (for one wicket in 37 overs) 108.
FoW: 1-55.
Bowling: Johnson 9-3-24-0, Harris 7-3-19-1, Hazlewood 9-4-19-0, Watson 4-0-14-0, Lyon 8-0-32-0.
