The end of second day’s play witnessed Australia in advantageous position as Michael Clarke and Steve Smith completed their respective centuries against India. Australia posted a massive 517 on the board with Smith and Mitchell Johnson are unbeaten at stumps.
Earlier, after a rain-delay on the second day, Clarke and Smith added 51 runs in about an hour until rain interrupted the game. Smith was just two runs short of his century while the Australia captain was on 85 when the players had to make their way back to the pavilion.
After an early Lunch, when game was set to begin, a drizzle delayed the start yet again, but when the players eventually walked out in the second session, Smith struck Varun Aaron to square-leg to pick two runs to notch up his fifth Test century.
The following over witnessed the crowd pay tribute to Phil Hughes as Clarke brought up Australia’s 408 – the number once donned by his former team-mate. A ball later, Clarke came down the track and struck Karn Sharma to the boundary to reach 2000 runs against India.
Clarke, meanwhile, reached his 28th century with a single off Aaron. In their quest to add quick runs under the dark skies before putting India into bat, Smith and Clarke went after the Indian bowlers.
When play resumed for the fourth time on Wednesday, Smith and Clarke helped the team past 500 runs. The batsmen took their chances and continued to add runs at a quick pace.
With the partnership worth 163, the Australia captain departed hitting Karn to Cheteshwar Pujara at square-leg. Mitchell Johnson then joined Smith to add to the mountain of runs. But, at the end of the over both sides were forced to return to the dressing rooms due to bad light.
