Shane Watson has blown a golden chance to notch up his fifth Test hundred against India at the SCG.

With the Indian attack struggling on a flat deck on day two of the fourth Test on Wednesday, a watchful Watson appeared certain to bring up triple figures before surprisingly holing out to Ravichandran Ashwin off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 81.

Watson had played within himself for much of the morning after starting the day on 61.

The pull shot he hit straight down Ashwin’s throat at deep mid-wicket off the second ball of the 107th over was one of the few extravagant shots he had played.

Watson again cut a despondent figure as he trudged off the SCG, after failing to go on and make a score in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test.