voslot IND Vs AUS, 4th Test Day 2: Steve Smith's Ton - An Unyielding Wall Against India's Bowling Storm

Australia's Steve Smith Australia's Steve Smith

Thanks to Steve Smith's magnificent centuryvoslot, Australia took control of their fourth Test against India on day two. (More Sports News)

The hosts continued on from their strong start on Thursday by reaching 474, led by Smith's impressive 140 before India suffered a mini-collapse later on.

Smith, who plundered his 34th Test ton, resumed at the crease with Pat Cummins (49) and put together a crucial 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket, with India unable to build on their momentum from the late session on day one.

Akash Deep eventually ended his stand before Jasprit Bumrah claimed his fourth wicket of the innings by taking Nathan Lyon (13) after Mitchell Starc's (15) dismissal.

The team led by Ammad Butt, finally secured their first victory with a 2-1 win over Japan and then delivered a decisive 5-1 win against China, to enter the semi-finals. Their final pool match ended in a narrow 2-1 loss to India.

Now, the top four teams have entered the semifinals and the last two teams will have to fight for the fifth spot on the table. India have won all of their five matches. Pakistan are second with two wins and two draws.

India's luck did not change with the bat – Rohit Sharma's poor form continued as he was taken by Cummins (2-57) in the second over before KL Rahul was bowled, leaving them at 51-2.

Yashavi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) steadied the ship with a partnership of 102, though Scott Boland (2-24) removed the latter and Deep for a duck as India slumped to 164-5.

Rishabh Pant (six not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (four not out), will start at the crease on Saturday, with India in need of a big improvement.

34 - Steve Smith has entered the Top 10 for most Test centuries, today's knock his 34th in the format. Pattern. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/x7xVYm5VkC

— OptaJason (@OptaJason) December 27, 2024

Data Debrief: Closing in on the top

Smith had already racked up one century during this Test series against India - he scored 101 in the first innings in Brisbane - but his second is much more impressive.

The 35-year-old got his 34th century in the longest format, moving joint-seventh on the all-time list, and is now just two behind Joe Root and Rahul Dravid above him.

mbo303 slot

Speaking of Root, Smith has overtaken him on one leaderboard. This was his 11th ton against India, one more than the Englishman has managed and more than any other player.

Australia scored 474 runs in the first inningsvoslot, more than twice as many as initially forecast by the Opta Predictor; they are undefeated in their last 31 men's Tests when they have batted first and scored 450+ runs (W21 D10).