India suffered a damaging run-out and Scott Boland took two wickets to leave the tourists in trouble at 164 for five at the end of day two of the fourth Test, after another Steve Smith century helped Australia post 474.
Smith, having scored a drought-breaking 101 in the drawn third Test in Brisbane, reprised his role as India’s tormentor-in-chief by scoring a record 11th century against the nation on the way to 140 at the MCG.
In reply, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) combined in a 102-run partnership after tea to give the tourists hope.
That was until Jaiswal’s mistake late in the final session, when he hit the ball straight to Australia captain Pat Cummins and called for a single. Kohli sent him back, Cummins threw to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who whipped off the bails leaving Jaiswal to trudge off.
Boland had Kohli caught behind half an hour later and followed that up by having Akash Deep caught for a duck when the nightwatchman edged on to his pads, with Nathan Lyon taking a sharp, low catch. That left Ravindra Jadeja (four not out) and Rishabh Pant (six not out) to mount a huge rescue mission, with India still trailing by 310.
Smith had earlier shared in a 112-run partnership with Cummins (49), with his 34th test ton ending any lingering questions over his place in the Australia side.
The India captain Rohit Sharma, however, did little to dispel the doubts on his future. Restored to his traditional opening slot, he threw away his wicket for three early in India’s reply with a clumsy pull off Cummins that was caught by Boland. The 37-year-old has not made more than 18 runs in his last eight innings.
Opener Jaiswal and Rahul saw India to the brink of tea until Cummins struck again to bowl India’s No 3 with an unplayable delivery that ripped back off the seam.
Australia have Smith to thank for their considerable advantage, the No 4 showing he is all but back to his best. He brought up his second century for the series with a crisp off-drive for four off all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
After Jadeja denied Cummins a fourth test half-century, Smith teamed up with tailender Mitchell Starc (15) for a 44-run partnership and pushed Australia past 450 before his 197-ball knock came to a close.
Charging down the wicket at seamer Deep, Smith edged the ball on to his pads and watched watched the ball trickle into leg stump.
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Even then, India conceded another 19 runs, until Jasprit Bumrah trapped Lyon lbw for 13 for the final wicket, the bowler finishing with 4-99.
India quick Mohammed Siraj’s miserable test continued as runs piled up from his bowling. Siraj sent two bouncers soaring over wicketkeeper Pant’s gloves for five byes each.
Hooked for six and smacked for four in successive balls by Smith, Siraj finished wicketless for 122 runs.
India’s players wore black armbands in tribute to the nation’s former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who died on Thursday aged 92. The five-match series is tied at 1-1, with the final test to come at Sydney.
