IND vs AUS, 4th Test: Cummins and his men script famous win, Australia leads series 2-1
IND vs AUS, 4th Test: Cummins and his men script famous win, Australia leads series 2-1
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 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.
Rohit seemed intent on being the anchor but in the 40 th 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.
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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.
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.
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Overturned, they sought the review and third umpire Sharfuddoula 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.
