Australia vs. India 2014, 2nd Test, Day 2: Highlights, Scorecard, Report

Australia finished Day 2 of the second Test in a rejuvenated position against India at Brisbane, after Steven Smith fired an excellent unbeaten 65 to lift his side to 221-4 at stumps.

The home team trail by 187 runs with six wickets remaining, giving them a platform on which to potentially establish a lead after India posted a first innings score of 408.

Smith remains at the crease alongside Mitchell Marsh, who added seven runs from 22 balls before the day's play was halted slightly early.

Chris Rogers had earlier set the tone for a fast start, hitting 55 from 79 balls. His time at the stumps was defined by 10 fours, noted by BBC Sport.

You can check Australia's full scorecard here:

Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Minutes	Balls
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
CJL Rogers	c Dhoni	b U Yadav	55	121	79
DA Warner	c Ashwin	b U Yadav	29	41	28
SR Watson	c Dhawan	b Ashwin	25	57	29
SPD Smith	Not Out		65	127	88
S Marsh	c Ashwin	b U Yadav	32	86	70
MR Marsh	Not Out		7	20	22
Extras	(4 nb 3 w 1 lb)		8
Total	(4 wickets; 52.0 overs)
I Sharma	9.0	0	47	0
VR Aaron	12.0	1	59	0
U Yadav	13.0	2	48	3
Ashwin	18.0	3	66	1

Smith, who is standing in as captain for the injured Michael Clarke, led by example for the home side. He swatted Australia's only two sixes of the day in a well-measured performance.

Of the Indian bowlers, only Umesh Yadav appeared able to cause significant damage. The 27-year-old was the first to strike, claiming the scalps of both Rogers and David Warner before Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed Shane Watson's wicket.

Yadav took three wickets in total for the loss of 48 runs.

Tertius Pickard/Associated Press

Shikhar Dhawan's brilliant diving catch from Ashwin's delivery was among the highlights of the session for the visitors, who certainly struggled to follow such a positive performance on Day 1. Rogers and Watson had put up a partnership of 50 just before, however, as the Australian top order put together a solid base.

Shaun Marsh's 86 minutes at the crease were extremely useful, adding 32 runs to Australia's total. Mitchell Marsh will now look to kick on with Smith in an attempt to cancel out India's lead, as momentum begins to build in the home side's favour.

Murali Vijay had led the way for India during their first innings on Day 1. His 144 included a rhythmic 22 boundaries without posting a single six. The 30-year-old pushed his team along the way to setting a challenging, if beatable opening score.

Tertius Pickard/Associated Press

Josh Hazlewood posted a tremendous debut showing to blitz through India's best efforts. The youngster racked up five wickets and tore through the middle order.

You can see India's full scorecard below:

Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Mins	Balls
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Vijay	c Haddin	b Lyon	144	332	213
Dhawan	c Haddin	b M Marsh	24	71	39
Pujara	c Haddin	b Hazlewood	18	85	64
Kohli	c Haddin	b Hazlewood	19	47	27
Rahane	c Haddin	b Hazlewood	81	186	132
Ro Sharma	c Smith	b Watson	32	91	55
Dhoni	c Haddin	b Hazlewood	33	95	53
Ashwin	c Watson	b Hazlewood	35	54	41
U Yadav	c Rogers	b Lyon	9	30	21
Aaron	c Sub	b Lyon	4	14	11
I Sharma	not out		1	6	3
Extras	1nb 2w 4b 1lb	8
Total	all out (109.4 ovs)	408
Johnson	21.0	4	81	0
Hazlewood	23.2	6	68	5
Starc	17.0	1	83	0
M Marsh	6.0	1	14	1
Lyon	25.4	2	105	3
Watson	14.4	6	39	1
Warner	1.0	0	9	0
Smith	1.0	0	4	0

Hazlewood's heroics will certainly have made one punter extremely happy, per ESPN Cricinfo:

Four of Hazlewood's telling deliveries ended up in the hands of Brad Haddin, who took an impressive six catches throughout the day. Perhaps the most spectacular, however, went to substitute Marnus Labuschagne, who made an excellent catch at short leg to say goodbye to Varun Aaron. Nathan Lyon was the appreciative bowler in this case.

Labuschagne's catch was highlighted by Cricket Australia:

The home side showed real fight to grab a foothold on Day 2. Hazlewood's impressive numbers certainly made this possible—Australia appeared slightly nervy until he stepped up—but another strong batting day is needed to push them ahead at the Gabba.

India need to build on the returning Yadav's quality, and must mix their bowling personnel up if they are to regain the advantage.