Sydney: Steve Smith scored his fourth century in as many tests as Australia built an imposing first innings total Wednesday on the second day of the fourth test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Smith, resuming on 82 not out, was at ease against India's bowling attack and helped the hosts to 420-4 at lunch.
Umesh Yadav (1-119) eventually dismissed Smith caught behind for 117.
Shane Watson missed his chance at a rare test hundred when he was caught off Mohammad Shami (2-80) for 81.
At lunch Shaun Marsh was 14 not out, with Joe Burns yet to score.
On the first day, David Warner smashed 101 and Chris Rogers made 95 as the openers combined for a 200-run opening stand after captain Smith won the toss and chose to bat first.
In reaching his century, Smith matched the feat of Don Bradman (vs. South Africa in 1931-32) and Jacques Kallis (vs. West Indies in 2003-04) to score four consecutive test hundreds in the same series.
Smith, promoted to captain due to Michael Clarke's latest instance of back and hamstring trouble, leads the scoring this series with 698 runs, including two half-centuries and four hundreds, at an average of 139.6.
Only Bradman (715 runs in 1947-48) and Ricky Ponting (706 runs in 2003-04) have scored more runs in a series between Australia and India.
Watson added 19 to his overnight score of 62 before he heaved a short-pitched Shami delivery straight to Ravi Ashwin at deep mid-wicket, who made no mistake taking the catch after dropping Watson on the penultimate ball of day one.
Watson again failed to convert a promising start into a century and now has 24 half centuries to go with only five test hundreds in his 55-tests.
India's woes in the field continued from day one, where it dropped three chances, as Murali Vijay dropped Marsh on nine at second slip off Ashwin.
Australia has an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and regained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, with two wins and a draw in the first three tests.
