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Smith hits ton, Australia take lead, rain comes down
- Updated: December 29, 2016
Australia’s captain Steven Smith beat encroaching bad weather by a matter of minutes to post his 17th Test hundred as the hosts forged into a first-innings lead over Pakistan on day four of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Moments after Smith reached his 100, the umpires suspended play, a decision followed soon after by a deluge that was more tropical Brisbane than Melbourne’s more typical southerly climate.
Smith’s ease at the crease contrasted with two more low scores for Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade, neither of whom can be sure of their places in the XI, and made life difficult for the visitors who were also inconvenienced when Azhar Ali was helped from the field after suffering a stunning blow to the helmet when fielding at short leg.
Full report to follow
Australia 4 for 395 (Smith 61*, Maddinson 7*) trail Pakistan 9 for 443 dec by 48 runsLive …
