Cricket: Watson strikes for Aussies

Shane Watson of Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Australian allrounder Shane Watson struck twice and Spidercam earned the scorn of captain Steve Smith on day three of the fourth test with India 342-5 at stumps at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday.

Centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli spearheaded the tourists' steadfast response to Australia's first-innings total of 572-7 (dec).

Watson was on a hat-trick in the final session, having trapped Ajinkya Rahane lbw and then finding the edge of Suresh Raina's bat.

Wriddhiman Saha safely defended the next delivery, but the scalps reinvigorated Australia's hopes of victory after a day dominated by Rahul and Kohli's 141-run partnership.

Kohli finished 140 not out, setting an Indian record for most runs in a test series against Australia.

Smith was distracted by Spidercam when he dropped Rahul on 46, having lost track of the skied edge amid the camera's wires.

The stand-in skipper only had himself to blame when he put down another with Kohli on 59. Smith, stationed at second slip, managed to get both hands to the leather but couldn't reel it in.

A draw looms as the most likely outcome in the dead rubber, with Indian legend VVS Laxman tweeting that the SCG strip was the slowest Australian pitch he had seen.

- AAP