Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 2: India steady after Australia put up a mammoth total on board
Sydney: India were 71 for one in reply to Australia's 572 for seven declared at the close of the second day in the final Sydney Test on Wednesday. Lokesh Rahul was on 31 with Rohit Sharma not out 40.
Here is how the action unfolded.
Steve Smith joined the greats as he plundered India's bowlers for his fourth century of the series in Australia's mushrooming first innings on the second day of the final Test in Sydney.
The Aussie skipper became only the third batsman along with the Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis to score tons in four consecutive Tests in the same series. He added his latest 117 to his unbeaten 162 in Adelaide, 133 in Brisbane and 192 in Melbourne in this series.
The pair of Joe Burns and Shaun Marsh frustrated Indian bowling attack on a pitch that offered all the help to batsmen. The Australian duo made sure that the visitors did not make a comeback following the departure of overnight batsmen Shane Watson and Steven Smith.
Back-to-back half-centuries to @shaunmarsh9 and Australia's top five batsmen have now all scored 50+ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/NDzkgDKtUb
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 7, 2015While Shaun Marsh was dismissed before tea, he made sure that he scored his second fifty of the series. Joe Burns, who could not do much on his debut, put up his first international fifty.
Congrats to Joe Burns on his maiden Test half-century! #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/LYFtW0THzm
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 7, 2015Indian bowling, on the other hand, failed to inspire.
Australia march past 500 again, each of the top 6 get 50s and with Bhuvaneshwar on 99 the top 4 bowlers will go past 100 again.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 7, 2015Mohammad Shami, was the only bowler, who got some consolation as he grabbed a fifer before Australia declared their inning after putting up 572 runs on the board.
Indian inning was off to a horrible start after Mitchell Starc dismissed in-form Murali Vijay in the first over. The Indian, who had tackled the Australian attack well in the series, could not open his account in thsi inning.
But Rohit Sharma, who replaced Cheteshwar Pujara at number three and playing XI in this Test, displayed patience and partnered KL Rahul to make sure India did not lose any more wickets before stumps on day two of the Test.
Rahul was watchful after a terrible start to his Test career.
(Photo: AP)
Rohit did not mind attacking the Australian bowlers whenever the opportunity was on offer.
Earlier, at lunch, Australia were 420 for four with Shaun Marsh not out 14 and newcomer Joe Burns yet to score following the dismissals of Watson and in-form Smith.
Bradman scored his centuries against South Africa at home in 1931-32, while Kallis compiled his hundreds against the West Indies in South Africa in 2003-04.
Smith was finally out 20 minutes before lunch when he was caught behind off Umesh Yadav ending his 208-ball knock spiced with 15 fours.
He has 698 runs in the series at an average of 139.6, placing him third behind Bradman (715) and Ricky Ponting (706) for most runs in a series against India.
Smith is having an extraordinary run and has now scored six centuries in the first innings of his last seven Tests at home.
Watson again missed out on what would have been only his fifth Test century when, on a flat SCG wicket, he had another brain snap and hoisted Mohammed Shami straight to Ravichandran Ashwin at deep midwicket for 81.
(Photo: AP)
Watson has now scored 24 half-centuries but just four tons into his 56th Test match, with his last Test hundred coming against England in Perth in December 2013.
He toiled for 250 minutes and faced 183 balls in putting on 196 runs for the third wicket with Smith.
India's bowlers were finding it hard going on the unresponsive SCG pitch with Shami taking two for 80 off 23 overs and Ashwin getting some turn with one for 98 off 37 overs.
India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia holding an unassailable 2-0 lead following wins in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The tourists have won only one of their last 22 Tests overseas and have been successful in only one of their 10 Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground, that sole victory coming 37 years ago.
