Aust 4-221 with second Test in the balance

Steve Smith led from the front as Australia fought back to reach 4-221 at stumps on day two of the second Test against India.

Smith (65 not out) put on a 87-run partnership with Shaun Marsh in Brisbane, leaving the game in the balance on Thursday night.

Marsh was dropped on 32 when Ajinkya Rahane fumbled a regulation skied catch, but he failed to add a single run after the reprieve.

Australia scored freely and quickly after bowling India out for 408, when lunch was taken on day two.

But they started the third session in real need of a captain’s knock, having been reduced to 3-121.

Smith, leading the side for the first time in the absence of hamstrung skipper Michael Clarke, delivered exactly what the situation called for.

The 25-year-old was relatively cautious early in his innings, but went on the attack just as offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin looked to be on top of their battle.

Smith danced down the wicket against Ashwin, helping himself to 16 runs from his 12th over.

Marsh, recalled for the second Test in place of Clarke, also started slowly.

It was to be expected.

Marsh had six ducks from his past 15 Test innings, while his Test record in Australia amounted to 17 runs from six innings.

Express paceman Varun Aaron worked the 31-year-old over with some spirited short stuff and looked to be rewarded in the 45th over.

Marsh mistimed a pull shot, with Rahane running around from leg gully and camping underneath the ball.

“That should have been a dolly. In the end he tried to catch it way too low,” Ian Chappell said while calling the game for the Nine Network.

“He panicked for some reason.”

Marsh couldn’t make him pay, providing a sharp edge to Ashwin two overs later when he slashed at a wide ball from Umesh Yadav.

Yadav finished the pick of India’s bowlers, boasting figures of 3-48.

Mitch Marsh, who strained his hamstring on day one, batted in discomfort and was seven not out when umpires called stumps due to bad light.

David Warner (29), Shane Watson (25) and Chris Rogers (55) all fell after making boundary-laden starts.

Warner and Rogers had attacked the new ball beautifully, with Ishant Sharma’s three-over spell costing 26 runs.

Earlier on Thursday, Josh Hazlewood snared five wickets as India’s innings ended with a collapse of 6-87.

Hazlewood was unable to bowl late on day one due to whole-body cramps, but swung the ball well on day two to remove Rahane, Ashwin and MS Dhoni.

Hazlewood became the 33rd Australian to snare a five-for on Test debut.

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