Ind vs Aus Blog: Smith Scores 100 as Australia End Day 1 at 299/4

Check live scores of the India-Australia Test in Ranchi. All the latest updates, pictures and reactions from Day 1.

• Australia end day one of the third Test against India at 299/4 in Ranchi on Thursday.
  
• Steve Smith scored his 19th Test century during the course of play.
  
• Glenn Maxwell notched his first Test fifty.
  
• Umesh Yadav picked up two wickets for 63 runs.
  

Australia End Day 1 at 299/4

Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have taken Australia to a fantastic position at the end of day one of the third Test against India at Ranchi.

Smith and Maxwell pulled off the third session without losing a wicket and added 159 runs for the fifth wicket until the close of play.

Smith brought up his 19th Test century and Maxwell scored his first Test fifty during the course of the day.

Australia end day one at 299/4.

India won the first session, Australia everything else. Long way back now for India. Will need a special batting performance

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2017

India will be hoping to bat as much as possible while the pitch plays like this. At the moment, wonderful batting track.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2017

Smith’s Second Hundred in the Series

Steve Smith is becoming a better batsman with every innings in this series. After all the brain fade-DRS episode, Smith couldn’t have found a better comeback than a century.

He brings up his 19th Test century and 6th against India in 227 balls. He is the only player to score a century in this series, let alone two now!

Australia: 272/4 after 83 overs.

This Steve Smith is such a wonderful young player. Been a joy seeing him bat.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 16, 2017

Two centuries in 3 Tests on bowler friendly pitches where no other batsman has reached three figures. Take a bow @stevesmith49

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 16, 2017

Australia will have revised their first innings target from 300 to 400. To achieve this, important that Smith and Maxwell see the day thru

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 16, 2017

Maxwell’s First Test Fifty

Glenn Maxwell has justified his selection with a classical Test fifty. The Australian, who has been in the international circuit since 2012, brings up his first Test fifty with a big six over midwicket off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling.

With the six, Maxwell and Smith also post 100 runs for the fifth wicket. This is the second 100-run partnership of the series.

Australia: 242/4 after 74 overs.

Australia Go Past 200

Steve Smith (84) is playing another one of his quintessential Test innings and Maxwell (23) has also got a fine start in his innings.

Smith has smashed 10 boundaries in his innings so far and Maxwell, who is usually an aggressive batsman, hasn’t sent any delivery to the fence yet.

Australia: 202/4 after 63 overs.