All the action from day five of the fourth Test between Australia and India, from Melbourne
Summary of the fourth day
Jasprit Bumrah once again demonstrated his talent with an impressive bowling performance, but Australia stubbornly rallied to reach 228/9, maintaining a lead of 333 runs in the gripping fourth Test.
On day four in Melbourne, Bumrah decimated the middle order with statistics of 4/56 in 24 overs, giving India a glimmer of hope of victory in a match that the home side largely dominated.
However, India’s hopes were dashed by late resistance with an unbroken last-wicket partnership of 55 runs in 17.5 overs. Nathan Lyon ends his day with 41 runs, while Scott Boland, in 11th position, holds on with 10 runs, after seeing 65 balls go.
With a 105-run advantage in the first innings, Australia suffered a major blow as they lost four wickets for just 11 runs, finding themselves at 91/6.
Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins then created a crucial 57-run partnership, taking the pressure off Bumrah’s attack. A somewhat lucky Labuschagne scored 70, adding to his score of 72 made in the first innings, while Cummins, in a master stroke, managed to score 41 runs, thus reaching a combined total of 90 runs in this test.
Both teams are battling to take a 2-1 series lead heading into the fifth and final Test in Sydney. Australia, despite a pitch offering variable bounce, remains in a comfortable position.
“Their middle to lower order batting has been exceptional in the last four or five overs that we have played against them, so we can never feel secure with a lead,” Labuschagne said at the end of the daytime.
“At one point we were ready to accept a lead of 270, and there the lower order really put us in a great position with 333.”
The conditions were brilliantly exploited by Bumrah, who continued to dominate this series with an impressive tally of 29 wickets. At 31, he crossed the milestone of 200 Test victims and has the lowest average (19.45) among the 85 bowlers who reached this milestone.
Labuschagne, battered several times by Bumrah’s scathing deliveries, however, showed calm during his innings of 139 balls. The Australian No. 3 player was lucky to survive an easy catch missed by Yashasvi Jaiswal when he was on 46 runs.
Jaiswal also couldn’t take a risk under the helmet, gifted by Cummins in the last match before tea. Labuschagne was then trapped LBW by the speedy Mohammed Siraj, after which Mitchell Starc was bowled out for five.
Spinner Ravindra Jadeja removed Cummins, signaling the start of a 10th-wicket partnership that could prove decisive. Siraj, with his 3/66, also caused the earlier collapse, dismissing first innings centurion Steve Smith for 13.
Bumrah was in particularly good form as he quickly dismissed Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey. Marsh was caught without recording any points, continuing a series where his contribution was rare.
“It happened so quickly,” commented Labuschagne of the collapse of the Australian middle order. “For a new batsman coming in, it is very difficult to start in a Test, and even more so when Bumrah is in great form, with the ball jumping.”
Australia lost their first two matches before lunch, finding themselves at 53/2. Young opener Sam Konstas, who had shone in his first Test with 60 runs, was bowled out this time for 8 by Bumrah. Usman Khawaja, meanwhile, was bowled for 21 by Siraj, after being dropped by Jaiswal during a missed catch.
In response to Australia’s 474 innings, India were dismissed for 369, having added 11 runs to their previous day’s total, with celebrating centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy the last player out for 114.
In only his fourth Test, Reddy achieved a record score for the highest score in Melbourne by a player occupying eighth position or lower. He believes that India would have the capacity to achieve a “grand total” if it applied itself correctly.
“If you ask me, everyone is capable of playing on this pitch,” he added.
Takeaways
- Jasprit Bumrah continues to shine with a total of 29 wickets in this series.
- Australia have their work cut out for them with a strong first innings but a worrying collapse in the second innings.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 114 runs, setting a new record for batsmen number eight or lower in Melbourne.
- The resistance at the final wicket added an interesting dimension to the match, complicating the prospects of both India and Australia.
Overall, this encounter highlights the changing dynamics of cricket, where each day of play presents its share of twists and turns. Individual performances can tip the scales, making each match as unpredictable as it is exciting. The question remains: will Australia be able to maintain their lead against an Indian team that never gives up easily?
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