Smith eyes second century of Ashes opener as Australia build lead

Steve Smith was in sight of a second century in his comeback Test after taking Australia into a significant lead in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Australia were 231 for 4 in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day, 141 runs ahead. Smith was 98 not out following a superb 144 in the first innings of this match -- the former Australia captain's first Test since a 12-month ban for his role in last year's ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.

Only four Australia batsmen have made hundreds in both innings of an Ashes Test -- Warren Bardsley (1909), Arthur Morris (1946/47), Steve Waugh (1997) and Matthew Hayden (2002/03).

England, a bowler down in the absence of the injured James Anderson, took just one wicket in the session, with Travis Head out for 51 after sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 130 with Smith that saw Australia into a lead of more than a hundred runs.

Only three times have a side made more than 150 in the fourth innings to win a Test at Edgbaston, with the highest such total South Africa's 283-5 in a five-wicket win 11 years ago -- the last time England lost at the Birmingham ground.

The match was in the balance when Australia resumed on 124-3, a lead of just 34 runs, with Smith 46 not and Head unbeaten on 21. Smith has now scored more than 1,000 runs in his past 10 Ashes innings.

- Bradmanesque -
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