India’s top-order runs into trouble on the second day of the fourth Test against Australia | Sports News

Steve Smith’s heroics and India’s late batting collapse give Australia clear control of the crucial fourth Test.

Australia’s fiery pace attack destroyed India’s top order, giving them the lead in the fourth Test after they set a daunting first innings target following Steve Smith’s 34th Test century.

At the end of Friday’s second day play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the visitors were 164-5, still 310 runs behind, after Australia were bowled out for 474 shortly after lunch by Smith’s stylish 140 runs.

Rishabh Pant was on six not out and Ravindra Jadeja on four, with three wickets in the last half hour breaking India’s momentum after they were 153-2.

Scott Boland and Pat Cummins grabbed two wickets each.

Skipper Rohit Sharma returned to his usual role as an opener after falling to six in the last two Tests.

But it didn’t do much to improve his poor recent form and he was out for three, spooning an attempted pull shot from Pat Cummins to Boland at mid-on for an easy catch.

Cummins pounced again to remove the in-form KL Rahul with the last ball before tea, bowling him for 24.

But opener Yashasvi Jaiswal held firm with a quality innings, playing well off the front foot and smashing a number of stylish boundaries in his 82.

The 22-year-old, who scored 161 in the first Test in Perth, seemed destined for another century but threw away his wicket in a comical mixup with Virat Kohli.

Jaiswal set out for a quick single against Boland but his teammate said no, leaving the youngster stranded and ending a dangerous 102-run stand.

Kohli, who was fined 20 percent of his match fee for a shoulder injury on the first day against Australian debutant Sam Konstas, was caught by Alex Carey with 36 points ahead of Boland, who then dismissed nightwatchman Akash Deep without scoring .

Smith takes control

The hosts followed up a dominant opening day with 311-6 and scored a further 163 runs, with the composed Smith hitting 13 fours and three sixes.

Smith improved again to 68, with Cummins following him on eight.

They conceded 15 points from a deep over before Smith hooked Jasprit Bumrah for six to rub salt in the wounds, with India’s body language showing their frustration.

Smith reached his 34th Test century with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy, which came on the back of a return to form in the final Test in Brisbane, where he reached 101.

With the milestone out of the way, both men started swinging the bat and Cummins paid the price, caught by Reddy deep off Jadeja for a fine 49, ending a 112-run stand.

Starc was bowled for 15 in the first over after lunch by Jadeja, with Smith following in bizarre fashion.

Facing deep, he danced along the wicket to drive but got an inside edge, with the ball bouncing off his pads and dripping onto leg stump.

Nathan Lyon (13) was the last wicket to fall, lbw to Bumrah, who finished with 4-99.

The five-match series is tied 1-1 after India won by 295 runs in Perth before being beaten by 10 wickets in Adelaide. The rain-affected third Test in Brisbane has been drawn.