Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson massacred the Indian bowling with a thunderous partnership to take Australia to 351 for six at lunch on Day Three of the second Test. Smith, who is yet to be dismissed in the series, and Johnson put on 104 runs to reduce India’s lead to a slender 57.
India started the day on an ideal note, with Ishant Sharma getting Mitchell Marsh clean bowled for 11, adding just four runs to his overnight score. New man Brad Haddin did not last very long either, getting caught at short leg by Cheteshwar Pujara while fending off a short ball from Varun Aaron.
However, that would remain India’s last success for the session. Johnson, batting at No. 8, came in and was greeted by a barrage of short balls. While there were a few plays and misses initially, an over-abundance of short balls eventually got old, as Johnson got a good measure of the bowling.
Johnson looked every bit the batsman who scored a Test hundred in South Africa as he unfurled pull shots, back foot drives, and later some good old slogs en route to his 37-ball half-century. Johnson hit Aaron for three fours in a row to get to the landmark. He later hit Ravichandran Ashwin for a big six over long-on in a manner reminiscent of his assault on Graeme Swann on this very ground a year ago.
Smith meanwhile scored his sixth Test hundred, and second of the series, as he quietly went about his business with Johnson blazing away at the other end. Smith now has scores of 162 not out, 52 not out, and 110 not out in this series. India would be very worried at the moment, with the partnership between the pair has being worth 104, as Australia trail by just 57 runs.
Earlier, Australia resumed the day on 221 for four with skipper Smith unbeaten on 65 and Marsh on seven. Umesh Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers on Day Two with three for 48 as Australia were trailing by 187 runs behind India’s 408.
Brief scores:
India 408 (Murali Vijay 144, Ajinkya Rahane 81; Josh Hazlewood 5 for 68, Nathan Lyon 3 for 105) lead Australia 351 for 6 (Chris Rogers 55, Steven Smith 110*, Mitchell Johnson 67*; Umesh Yadav 3 for 68) by 57 runs.
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