Sydney: Steve Smith eclipsed a Don Bradman record by powering a furious Australian run chase to set a massive target for India in the final Sydney Test on Friday. The Australian skipper with the Midas touch went helter-skelter after the runs in a bid for a declaration to pursue the home side’s third victory in the four-match series on Saturday’s final day.
Smith, backed by four centuries, passed Bradman’s 1947-48 record of 715 for most Australian runs in a series against India with a frenetic 71 off 70 balls. The skipper, who was leg before wicket to Mohammed Shami, finished the series with 769 runs at 128.16.
Some late fireworks from Joe Burns with 66 off 39 balls propelled Australia to 251 for six off 40 overs and a lead of 348 with Brad Haddin not out for 31. A declaration was likely overnight.The highest successful run-chase record in the fourth innings of a Sydney Test is currently Australia’s 288 for two against South Africa nine years ago.
Chris Rogers raised his sixth straight half-century of the series with a glorious cover drive to the boundary but he was out shortly after hitting straight to Suresh Raina for 56 off 77 balls.
The Australians finally dislodged India for 475 after 162 overs to lead by 97 runs on the first innings shortly before tea.
Scorecard
Australia (1st innings): 572/7decl.
India (1st innings): M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc 0, L. Rahul c & b Starc 110, R. Sharma b Lyon 53, V. Kohli c Rogers b Harris 147, A. Rahane lbw b Watson 13, S. Raina c Haddin b Watson 0, W. Saha c Smith b Hazlewood 35, R. Ashwin c Haddin b Starc 50, B. Kumar c Watson b Lyon 30, M. Shami (not out) 16, U. Yadav c Haddin b Harris 4. Extras (b4, lb7, w1, nb5) 17. Total (in 162 overs) 475.
FoW: 1-0, 2-97, 3-238, 4-292, 5-292, 6-352, 7-383, 8-448, 9-456.
Bowling: Mitchell Starc 32-7-106-3, Ryan Harris 31-7-96-2, Josh Hazlewood 29-8-64-1, Nathan Lyon 46-11-123-2, Shane Watson 20-4-58-2, Steve Smith 4-0-17-0.
Australia (2nd innings): C. Rogers c Raina b Kumar 56, D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin 4, S. Watson b Ashwin 16, S. Smith lbw b Shami 71, S. Marsh c Vijay b Ashwin 1, J. Burns c Yadav b Ashwin 66, B. Haddin (batting) 31, R. Harris (batting) 0. Extras (b2, lb2, nb2) 6. Total (for six wickets in 40 overs) 251.
FoW: 1-6, 2-46, 3-126, 4-139, 5-165, 6-251.
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8-0-46-1, R. Ashwin 19-2-105-4, Mohammed Shami 6-0-33-1, Umesh Yadav 3-0-45-0, Suresh Raina 4-0-18-0.
