1st Test
Day-4 Afternoon Session Highlights:
India team on the cusp of victory despite strong middle-order resistance
At The Tea of Day-4:
India scored 150 (1st Innings) and 487/6 – declared (2nd Innings), where as Australia scored 104 (1st Innings) and 227/8 (2nd Innings).
So, finally India lead by 307 runs.
India continued to make inroads with three wickets, including that of Travis Head for 89, during the second session on Day 4 in Perth.
Mitchell Marsh also contributed with 47, while Alex Carey remains the last recognised batter at 30*.
As teams headed into Tea, Australia was 227/8, still trailing by a large margin.
India needs just two more wickets to secure a dominant victory in Perth.
After the lunch break, Head and Marsh came out with positive intent, highlighted by Marsh pulling Harshit Rana for six in the first over.
The hosts made a strong start, scoring 31 runs off just four overs, with the partnership growing steadily.
However, Jasprit Bumrah broke the stand in his first over after returning to the attack.
A bouncer, which went for five wides, caused Head to hang back, and Bumrah followed up with a length delivery that induced a loose shot, resulting in a catch behind the stumps.
Nitish Reddy nearly found Marsh’s edge with his very first ball, getting some away movement, and struck in his second over when Marsh chopped a wide delivery onto his stumps.
Carey, Australia’s in-form batter with two recent centuries in the Sheffield Shield, looked composed despite the challenging pitch conditions, pulling two boundaries.
Mitchell Starc supported him well, playing comfortably against Washington Sundar.
However, the 45-run partnership was broken when Starc was caught off a brilliant one-handed stunner by Dhruv Jurel at short-leg just before Tea, swinging the session in India’s favour.
Earlier, India capitalised in the first session with Mohammed Siraj’s two key wickets.
Usman Khawaja top-edged a pull shot off Siraj to Rishabh Pant, who took a tricky running catch.
Australia, at 17/4, attempted to recover, with Steve Smith showing signs of fluency after altering his technique.
However, Siraj had the final say, getting Smith to edge a delivery that held its line, sending him back for 17.
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