Melbourne, Australia: Steven Smith smashed his third century of the series to lead Australia to a commanding 389-7 at lunch on the second day of the third test against India on Saturday.
Smith and Brad Haddin turned an evenly poised match in Australia's favor with an aggressive start to the morning, sharing a 110-run, sixth-wicket partnership — including 71 runs in the first hour Saturday — until Haddin (55) offered a bottom edge to India wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni off Mohammed Shami (3-114).
The Australia captain added another 50 runs with Mitchell Johnson, who scored 28 before being stumped off Ravichandran Ashwin (2-65) shortly before lunch.
Smith was 128 not out at the break with Ryan Harris unbeaten on 10.
After resuming the day on 72 with Australia at 259-5, Smith brought up his seventh test century with a four down the leg side off Shami, raising his bat and helmet in celebration before an appreciative Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd. The Australia captain's 100 came off 191 balls with nine boundaries and a six.
Haddin proved an able partner at the other end, seeing off a barrage of short balls from the Indian pacemen to reach his half century off 75 balls with seven boundaries a and a six.
The Indian bowlers had no answer to Smith as he played his strokes around the ground at will. The Indian field, meanwhile appeared demoralized and in disarray.
Smith came to the crease Friday with Australia at 2-115 and saw the fall of Shane Watson shortly after to leave Australia in a precarious position in the face of some effective Indian bowling, including the dismissal of opener David Warner for a duck in the second over of the match.
After a cautious start, Smith upped the tempo in the third session to quickly bring up his fourth 50 of the series, pass 1,000 test runs for the year and offer some confidence to the Australia innings.
Australia can clinch the four-test series and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a win or draw in Melbourne after a 48-run win in the first test and a four-wicket victory last week in the second test at Brisbane.
