Travis Head and Steve Smith’s centuries put Australia on top against India as they made 405-7 on day two of the third Test despite a late burst from Jasprit Bumrah at the Gabba.
Australia resumed on 28-0 in Brisbane after rain curtailed the opening day to just 13.2 overs, with India’s seamer getting early breakthroughs to see off Usman Khawaja (21) and Nathan McSweeney (9), while Nitish Kumar Reddy (1-65) dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (12) to leave them on 75-3.
But Head (152) and Smith (101) then combined for a mighty 241-run fourth-wicket partnership, powering Australia to 316-3 before Bumrah (5-72) struck in the evening session to dismiss them both.
Alex Carey (45 not out) and Mitchell Starc (7no) survived the late blitz and guided the hosts safely to stumps after captain Pat Cummins (20) fell to Mohammed Siraj (1-97)
The five-match series is tied at 1-1 with Australia winning the day-nighter in Adelaide after India romped to victory in the opening game at Perth.
Head and Smith defy India’s seamers
The Gabba pitch was offering plenty of assistance for India’s seamers under patchy cloud-covered skies early on Sunday and it saw Khawaja caught behind off Bumrah early doors.
McSweeney followed shortly after, making just nine from his 49-ball outing as he edged Bumrah to Virat Kohli at second slip, with Australia slipping to 38-2 in the 19th over.
Smith and Labuschagne steadied the ship but Reddy tempted the Australia No 3 with a wide delivery which brought Kohli back into play as he once again pouched the catch at slip.
Smith and Head then came together with Australia at 75-3, with the latter first reaching his half-century off 71 balls before posting his ninth Test hundred off a low full toss from Bumrah.
Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Australia’s centurion Head
Smith had not made a century in 26 innings, the last coming during the 2023 Ashes tour, but played sensibly to reach his 33rd Test hundred off 185 balls after flicking Akash Deep (0-78) to fine leg for a single.
In the following over, Smith was caught in the slip cordon by skipper Rohit Sharma but walked off to a standing ovation from the Gabba crowd.
Mitch Marsh (5) edged through to Kohli for Bumrah’s fourth and three balls later the India pacer also had Head caught behind to complete his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Carey and Cummins helped take Australia past 400 before the captain edged a wide fourth-stump line ball from Siraj to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
India’s Test tour of Australia
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