Eight men around the bat, a Test on the line, and a fifth day climax. A frenzied Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed all this and more on a Monday (December 30, 2024) that gifted a sporting high to Pat Cummins and his men, who defeated India by 184 runs in the fourth Test.
Australia leads the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at 2-1 with the fifth and final Test scheduled at Sydney from January 3.
After the host finished the second innings at 234, India was left with a target of 340 from 92 overs. The way the visitors batted, hope shimmered initially, then it became a practical expectation of a draw and finally the reality of defeat left Rohit Sharma’s men deflated. Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) offered some resistance while India mustered 155 in the second innings.
The pursuit commenced on a sedate note. Mitchell Starc and Cummins steamed in from either end and Jaiswal and Rohit stood their ground. Jaiswal on-drove Starc and when Rohit clipped his maiden single, the fans applauded.
India’s Virat Kohli walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, on December 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Rohit seemed intent on being the anchor but in the 40th delivery he faced from his rival counterpart, he tried to force one towards the on-side. Cummins did enough to graze the leading edge and the catch flew to Mitchell Marsh. Next man K.L. Rahul perished in the same over as Cummins played the pied-piper outside the off-stump.
Virat Kohli bided his time and then leant into a drive off Starc’s angled delivery. It was more a quest in hope and one doomed to fail. India 33 for three and miserable at lunch.
After the break, southpaws Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant remained guarded. There was relief too as Jaiswal picked his spots twice on the off-side against Scott Boland. Pant too briefly followed suit before retreating into a shell.
Jaiswal hustled to his 50, slashing Starc and sweeping Nathan Lyon. And at tea, India moved to 112 for three while skipper Cummins, conscious of a poor over-rate, pressed Lyon, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne into service.
In the last session, the host came back roaring as Head tossed one up. Pant tried to clear the deep and instead found a tumbling Marsh at long-on. The 88-run fourth-wicket alliance was snapped and it became part of a triple-blow. Boland surprised Ravindra Jadeja with his bounce and Lyon found the edge of Nitish Kumar’s bat. India 130 for six and in a shambles.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah holds up the ball as he leaves the field after taking the five wickets during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024
| Photo Credit:
AP
With Washington Sundar for company, Jaiswal had to rebuild again. However, when Cummins bounced, Jaiswal tried to pull and as the ball sailed into Alex Carey’s gloves, the Australians went up in appeal.
Overturned, they sought the review and third umpire Saikat declared the batter out, on the basis of a minor deflection while the snickometer did not pick any sound. Soon, Akash Deep was adjudged caught and the tail withered away.
Earlier, in the morning, India needed just 10 deliveries to end the Australian second innings. Jasprit Bumrah castled Lyon, gained another five-for, and India stared at a target that remained beyond reach.
The scores
Australia – 1st innings: 474 all out in 122.4 overs
India – 1 innings: 369 all out in 119.3 overs
Australia – 2nd innings: Sam Konstas b Bumrah 8 (18b, 1×4), Usman Khawaja b Siraj 21 (65b, 2×4), Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Siraj 70 (139b, 3×4), Steve Smith c Pant b Siraj 13 (41b, 1×4), Travis Head c Nitish b Bumrah 1 (2b), Mitchell Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 0 (4b), Alex Carey b Bumrah 2 (7b), Pat Cummins c Rohit b Jadeja 41 (90b, 4×4), Mitchell Starc (run out) 5 (13b), Nathan Lyon b Bumrah 41 (55b, 5×4), Scott Boland (not out) 15 (74b, 2×4). Extras (lb-10, nb-6, w-1): 17; Total (all out in 83.4 overs): 234.
Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Konstas, 6.3 overs), 2-43 (Khawaja, 18.5), 3-80 (Smith, 32.3), 4-85 (Head, 33.2), 5-85 (Marsh, 33.6), 6-91 (Carey, 35.6), 7-148 (Labuschagne, 55.1), 8-156 (Starc, 58.1), 9-173 (Cummins, 64.1).
India bowling: Bumrah 24.4-7-57-5, Akash 17-4-53-0, Siraj 23-4-70-3, Jadeja 14-2-33-1, Nitish 1-0-4-0, Washington 4-0-7-0.
India – 2nd innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal c Carey b Cummins 84 (208b, 8×4), Rohit Sharma c Marsh b Cummins 9 (40b), K.L. Rahul c Khawaja b Cummins 0 (5b), Virat Kohli c Khawaja b Starc 5 (29b), Rishabh Pant c Marsh b Head 30 (104b, 2×4), Ravindra Jadeja c Carey b Boland 2 (14b), Nitish Kumar c b Lyon 1 (5b), Washington Sundar (not out) 5 (45b), Akash Deep c Head b Boland 7 (17b, 1×4), Jasprit Bumrah c Smith b Boland 0 (8b), Mohammed Siraj lbw b Lyon 0 (2b). Extras (b-5, lb-5, nb-2): 12; Total (all out in 79.1 overs): 155.
Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Rohit, 16.1 overs), 2-25 (Rahul, 16.6), 3-33 (Kohli, 26.1), 4-121 (Pant, 58.4), 5-127 (Jadeja, 62.2), 6-130 (Nitish, 63.2), 7-140 (Jaiswal, 70.5), 8-150 (Akash, 76.1), 9-154 (Bumrah, 78.3).
Australia bowling: Starc 16-8-25-1, Cummins 18-5-28-3, Boland 16-7-39-3, Marsh 3-2-2-0, Lyon 20.1-6-37-2, Head 5-0-14-1, Labuschagne 1-1-0-0.
Published – December 30, 2024 07:26 am IST
