1st Test
Day-4 Morning Session Highlights:
Mohammed Siraj has helped India team to maintain control despite Travis Head’s fifty
At The Lunch of Day-4:
India scored 150 (1st Innings) and 487/6 – declared (2nd Innings), where as Australia scored 104 (1st Innings) and 104/5 (2nd Innings).
So, finally India lead by 430 runs.
Mohammed Siraj claimed two crucial wickets of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith as India inched closer to victory on Day 4 of the first Test in Perth.
Despite a resilient 63* from Travis Head, Australia’s hopes of a comeback seemed slim, still requiring 430 runs with only five wickets remaining.
In the session, Australia managed to score 92 runs, but with the mounting pressure, the result appeared to be leaning towards India.
Jasprit Bumrah struck early, hitting Smith on the pads with his first delivery, though Smith survived the scare, getting off the mark shortly after with a cover drive.
Siraj then dismissed Khawaja, who top-edged a pull shot off a back-of-a-length delivery to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
This marked the first time since 1969 that Australia had lost four wickets for under 20 runs.
The Indian bowlers, led by Siraj, Bumrah, and Harshit Rana, were relentless, challenging the Australian batters with well-directed deliveries.
Siraj nearly trapped Head lbw, but the DRS revealed that the ball was just clipping the stumps, and Head survived.
He responded with a couple of boundaries to relieve the pressure.
After the drinks break, Head continued to score freely off loose deliveries, helping Australia add 22 runs in the first four overs.
Meanwhile, Smith looked more comfortable than in his first innings, adjusting his technique and waiting for the ball rather than using an exaggerated shuffle.
However, his innings ended when Siraj found his outside edge, which Pant easily gathered.
Head brought up his fifty after ramping a Siraj bumper over the keeper for four, and soon after, Australia’s total crossed 100.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh struggled at the other end, failing to score easily and enduring some discomfort from the fast bowlers.
It took him 16 balls to get off the mark with a streaky three.
By Lunch, Australia was 104 for 5, still trailing India by 430 runs.
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