Australia dominated yet another day of the test cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground leaving India a whopping 309 runs to chase on the final day on Saturday.
Resuming at 103/2, Marnus Labuschagne was given an early reprieve when Hanuma Vihari dropped a sitter at square leg off the second ball of the day of the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah.
The duo of Labuschagne and Smith added another 35 runs, before the former was caught by substitute wicket keeper Saha off Navdeep Saini for a well made 73.
Matthew Wade became Saini’s second victim caught behind by Saha.
Smith and Cameron Green added 60 runs for the fifth wicket, before the former was adjudged leg-before wicket by Ravi Ashwin as the home side were reduced to 208/5.
Green was involved in yet another brilliant stand of 104 runs with skipper Tim Paine for the sixth wicket and the duo took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners.
The 21 year old Green was sent back to the pavilion by Jasprit Bumrah for a superb 84. His knock comprised off 132 balls with 8 fours and four sixes.
The home side declared at 312 for 6 setting India a daunting target of 407.
Navdeep Saini and Ravi Ashwin claimed two wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj claimed a wicket each.
Chasing 408, the pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got the visitors off to a fantastic start by putting on 71 runs for the opening stand, before the latter was caught behind by Paine off Josh Hazlewood for 31.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit stitched together a 21 run stand before the latter was caught at backward square leg by Starc off Cummins. The star Indian opener was dismissed for 52 off 98 deliveries with five fours and a six.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane joined Pujara in the middle and saw the day through and ensured that their side did not lose any more wickets in the day.
The visitors ended Day 4 at 98/2, leaving another 309 runs to win on the final day.
Ravindra Jadeja who has been ruled out of the series with a thumb injury in all probability will not bat in the second innings.
Stumps at the end of Day 4- India 244 and 98/2 (Rohit Sharma 52, Shubman Gill 31; Josh Hazlewood 1-11), Australia 338 and 312/6 declared (Cameron Green 84, Steve Smith 81, Navdeep Saini 2-54)