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NEW DELHI: Travis Head’s third century of the series, alongside Steve Smith’s first, guided Australia to a 134-run first-innings lead over England by stumps on the third day of the fifth and final Ashes Test.

Head resumed Tuesday at 91 and was eventually dismissed for 163 off 166 balls, a brilliant innings following his match-winning 123 in the second innings of the first Test at Perth and his 170 in the second innings of the third Test at Adelaide.

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Smith remained 129 not out at stumps, lifting his performance in what had been a relatively quiet series with the bat. His previous highest score in the series had been 61 in the first innings at Adelaide.

The century was Smith’s 13th in Ashes Tests, the 37th of his career, and his fifth at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With this knock, he moved up to sixth on the all-time list of most Test centuries.

At stumps, Australia was 518-7, responding to England’s first-innings total of 384.

Beau Webster was unbeaten on 42 and had put on 81 runs with Smith for the eighth wicket, extending Australia’s lead.

“It was a really nice day today with a couple of nice partnerships,” Smith said. "Hopefully, we can put a little partnership together, get up over a 200 lead and the wicket starts to play a few more tricks.

“I just love batting here, obviously it's my home deck. I know the ground really well and when I get in here I really like batting here."

Khawaja saluted

While Head and Smith’s centuries drew huge cheers, and Head’s dismissal earned a standing ovation, the biggest applause of the day was reserved for Usman Khawaja as he came to the crease in his 88th and final Test for Australia. Khawaja will retire at the end of the series.

He scored 17 off 49 balls at the same ground where he made his Test debut 15 years ago, departing also to a standing ovation. Khawaja is a fan favourite for his determined style and, as a Pakistan-born Muslim, for his courage in addressing issues of race and belonging.

Head’s hundred

Head reached triple figures from 105 balls, becoming the first Australian opener since Matthew Hayden in 2002-03 to score three centuries in a single Ashes series.

The 32-year-old left-hander reached the milestone with the 17th boundary of his innings.

His previous two centuries had been key in Australia retaining the Ashes across the earlier matches. In Sydney, he helped the home side bounce back after England’s historic win in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

Head had a lucky escape when he was dropped on 121 by Will Jacks off Brydon Carse’s bowling. He had lofted a short ball to mid-wicket where Jacks failed to hold a routine catch.

He slowed down his scoring briefly but accelerated after nightwatchman Michael Neser (24) was caught behind off Carse, ending a 72-run third-wicket stand.

Head hit the first six of the innings and then surpassed 150 with another boundary, taking him to 153 from 152 balls. By lunch on Day 3, he had amassed 24 boundaries and a six. When he was out for 163 in the second session, Australia was 288-4.

Smith takes command

Smith then shared partnerships of 51 with Khawaja, 27 with Alex Carey (16), and 61 with Cameron Green, who squandered a promising start and was dismissed for 37 while attempting to pull a short ball from Carse.

Green’s single off Ben Stokes in the 94th over brought Australia level with England, and Smith’s boundary in the same over put the home side in the lead.

Smith reached his century from 166 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six.

Always hyperactive at the crease and sensitive to the crowd’s movement even far from the bowler, Smith was especially energetic on Tuesday, hopping, bouncing, gesturing, wandering out of the crease, performing somersaults to evade short-pitched deliveries, and ending the day covered in dirt from the pitch.

At one point, he asked Carse to turn his sunglasses around, claiming the reflection was distracting.

“It just kind of happens when I'm out there and when I'm doing those things it means I'm in a good zone,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we can see a few more of them.”

(With PTI Inputs)