BGT, 1st test, Day 4: Siraj removes Smith as Aus go into lunch at 104 for five
Deccan ChroniclePerth: Mohammed Siraj bowled a couple of incisive morning spells to remove the seasoned Usman Khawaja and out-of-form Steven Smith as Australia gasped to 104 for five at lunch on day four of the first Test against India. Chasing a near impossible target of 534, Australia, who resumed on 12 for three, were reduced to 17 for 4 when Khawaja's mistimed pull off Mohammed Siraj was well taken by IPL's three million dollar man Rishabh Pant running backwards.But then India's new nemesis Travis Head started counter-punching in the presence of Smith, who was trying his best to dig in with desperation to come out of his current rut. If Khawaja was disposed with a delivery that got big on the southpaw opener, Smith got a delivery that was pitched on perfect length and deviated enough to kiss his outside edge as Pant completed the formalities diving to his right ending a 62-run stand. Head, who got a beauty from Harshit Rana in the first innings, knew that survival wasn't an option on a deteriorating track and he didn't let the loose balls go unpunished as anything pitched up was driven and the short ones were cut disdainfully.