Late Scott Boland burst, Steve Smith heroics put Australia in charge of fourth India Test
The visitors were 164-5 at end of day 2 at the MCG, still 310 runs adrift after Australia was out for 474 after lunch, buoyed by Smith’s 140
India suffered a disastrous run-out and Scott Boland took two wickets to leave the tourists in major trouble at 164 for five on day two of the fourth Test on Friday, after another Steve Smith century helped Australia post an imposing 474.
Smith, having scored a drought-breaking 101 in the drawn third Test in Brisbane, reprised his role as India’s tormentor-in-chief with a record 11th century against the nation on the way to 140 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In reply, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) combined in a sturdy 102-run partnership after tea to give the tourists hope of reeling in Australia’s total.
That was until Jaiswal suffered a brain-fade late in the session, hitting the ball straight to Australia captain Pat Cummins and calling for a single that was never there.
Kohli sent him back and Cummins threw to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who whipped off the bails leaving Jaiswal to trudge off in agony in front of a mammoth crowd of 85,147.
“It was a nice wicket. It was obviously a really good partnership to break, that one,” Smith said. “It was a huge last hour for us.”
