SCG Test: Australia declare on 312, give India 407-run target
Australia made the declaration on 312/6 in the second session on Day 4 of the ongoing SCG Test. Despite Marnus Labuschagne's dismissal, Steve Smith continued with his carnage. Later on, the likes of Cameron Green and Tim Paine scored crucial runs to give the hosts complete control. Meanwhile, India require 407 runs to win the Test. Here is the session report.
How did the session pan out?
In the second session, Australia resumed on 182/4 with Green and Smith in the middle. Soon after, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Smith (81) lbw. However, Australian skipper Tim Paine settled on the crease along with Green. The duo shared a 104-run stand. As the session came to close, the hosts declared on 312/6, having stretched their lead to 406 runs.
Another 50+ score for Smith
Star batsman Smith was cruising toward yet another ton in the second innings. However, he (81) was dismissed by Ashwin for the third time this series. In the first innings, Smith scripted history by slamming his 27th ton in Test cricket. Smith is now Australia's ninth-highest run-scorer (7,449) in Test cricket. He eclipsed David Boon (7,422) to enter the top-10 in the elite club.
Century and half-century in a Test most times
With a fifty in the second innings, Smith now owns a century and half-century in a Test most times (10) in world cricket. He surpassed the tally of the great Jacques Kallis (9), who earlier shared the record with him.
Green smashes his maiden Test fifty
Both Green (84) and Paine (39*) played with aggressive approach once Smith got dismissed. They eyed the declaration by plundering as many runs as they can. In the process, all-rounder Cameron Green registered his maiden fifty in Test cricket. The 21-year-old made his presence felt with a blistering knock in the second session. Meanwhile, skipper Paine also left no opportunity to score runs.
