India 2-160 at tea, chasing 349 runs

Steve Smith has reeled in a spectacular catch, but Australia require another eight wickets in one session to win the fourth Test against India.

India reached 2-160 at tea on day five in Sydney, where a draw remains the most likely outcome.

Smith declared prior to the start of play at the SCG on Saturday, setting the tourists a victory target of 349 runs.

He snaffled a one-handed catch at slip to dismiss Rohit Sharma for 39, but still has plenty of work to do in the dead rubber.

Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli were hard to remove, as Josh Hazlewood enhanced his status as Australia’s new metronome.

Hazlewood conceded just one run from his first 45 deliveries, ending the second session with figures of 0-6 from nine overs.

Vijay attacked Nathan Lyon in one over shortly before tea, helping himself to 16 runs.

But the opener was largely uninterested in taking risks, having been given contrasting reprieves by Shaun Marsh and umpire Richard Kettleborough.

Vijay took over an hour to go from 40 to 50, with Marsh dropping a tough chance in the covers when he was 42.

Hazlewood looked to have trapped Vijay lbw on 46, but Kettleborough incorrectly sensed there was an inside edge and turned down the full-hearted appeal.

Vijay was 71 not out at tea, while Kohli was 26.

India started day five positively, reaching 0-48 after almost an hour before Lyon created the initial breakthrough.

Then came the go-slow.

Sharma needed 21 balls and almost half an hour to get off the mark, with the hosts bowling five maidens in a row after Lyon dismissed KL Rahul.

Lyon was almost on a hat-trick as third umpire Simon Fry fretted over every frame while reviewing Brad Haddin’s attempted stumping.

Mitchell Starc looked Australia’s most potent paceman in the muggy conditions, causing both Vijay and Sharma some uncomfortable moments.

Australia are seeking a third victory in the four-Test series, having reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a draw in Melbourne.

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