Australia closed day four of the fourth Test against India with a commanding lead of 333 runs, courtesy of important lower-order knocks by Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland. The two batted out the day frustrating the Indian bowlers in the process, adding a valuable 55 runs for the last wicket. Lyon scored his joint second-highest Test score of 41 not out after a reprieve as dramatic as they came as Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball canceled a catch late in the day.
Indian bowlers kept the match alive before Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland stepped in
Earlier, India’s bowlers kept the match alive. Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were simply brilliant, forcing Australia down to 99 for 6 in an action-packed afternoon session. Bumrah, who claimed his 200th Test wicket during an exceptional spell, sent back Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey in a burst of three for four in seven overs. Siraj ably supported him with rigid lines and vital strikes-the big one being the elimination of Marnus Labuschagne, who stood firm to anchor the Australia innings with a tenacious 70.
Labuschagne survived a dropped catch on 46 and made the most of the lifeline to stitch a very important partnership with Pat Cummins. The duo stitched 57 runs to swing the momentum back in favor of the hosts before Labuschagne was finally castled lbw by Siraj.
It only added to India’s fielding woes as young Yashasvi Jaiswal spilled multiple chances, including one that allowed Cummins to extend Australia’s lead. India had bowled so well in the morning, but their inability to seize the critical moments has put them on the back foot.
No team has yet chased over 332 at MCG
The hundred from Nitish Kumar Reddy earlier in the game had reduced Australia’s first-innings lead to 105. India, however, have the onerous task of chasing a record total on a testing MCG wicket. No team has chased more than 332 at this venue. That was way back in 1928 when England achieved the feat.
That means another pivotal contribution from Australia’s lower order, this time Lyon and Boland. Their guts under pressure have tipped the contest overwhelmingly towards the hosts’ favor. But the visiting team would still hope to pull off another historic act, just like India at the Gabba in 2021, to stay alive in the series.
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