Bumrah, Siraj, and Labuschagne shine on a fast-paced Day 4, as Australia extends their lead to 333 runs at stumps.

India versus Australia Test Series, 2024

4th Test

Day-4 Evening Session Highlights:

Bumrah and Siraj as well as Labuschagne has shined on a fast-paced Day 4 at the MCG

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the dismissal of Mitchell Marsh © Getty

At The Stumps of Day-4:

Australia scored 474 (1st Innings) & 228/9 (2nd Innings), where as India scored 369 (1st Innings).

So, finally Australia lead by 333 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah became the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to claim 200 wickets at an average under 20, continuing his massive influence in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Mohammed Siraj bounced back from a wayward first innings, quickly finding his rhythm and claiming three crucial wickets.

For Australia, Marnus Labuschagne capitalized on a considerable amount of luck to score his second fifty of the Test, keeping his team afloat on a day filled with ups and downs.

Despite the efforts of Bumrah, Siraj, and Labuschagne, Australia extended their lead to 333, thanks to a dogged final-wicket partnership between Nathan Lyon (41* off 54) and Scott Boland (10* off 65).

Bumrah’s workload has been a key feature of this Test.

In the first innings, he bowled 28.4 overs out of 122.4 – only three times before had he bowled more in a single innings.

In the second innings, he was asked to do even more, delivering 24 overs out of 82 so far, during which he picked up four wickets to rattle Australia’s middle order after India had conceded a 105-run first-innings lead.

The day began with a dramatic start as Bumrah dismissed his first-innings nemesis, Sam Konstas, and celebrated by egging on the crowd, just as the 19-year-old did the previous day.

Bumrah and Akash Deep then endured a session of frustration, with Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne surviving several plays and misses, despite India’s excellent bowling.

India created numerous false shots in the first 10 overs but could only claim one wicket.

Mohammed Siraj then bowled with renewed intensity after his first-innings struggles, removing Khawaja with a delivery that shattered the opener’s stumps.

India’s momentum surged in the post-Lunch session as Bumrah and Siraj combined to take four wickets in just 22 balls.

The collapse began with Steve Smith, who edged a full, wide ball from Siraj behind.

Travis Head then fell to Bumrah, flicking a ball to mid-wicket, marking Bumrah’s 200th Test wicket.

Bumrah soon got Mitchell Marsh to edge behind, and then breached Alex Carey’s bat-pad gap, leaving Australia in a precarious 91/6.

However, just as India seemed on the brink of wrapping up the innings, Pat Cummins joined Labuschagne in a defiant partnership.

Labuschagne, benefiting from near-misses and two dropped catches by Yashasvi Jaiswal, rode his luck and helped push Australia’s lead further.

India’s persistence paid off when Siraj won an LBW decision against Labuschagne, following an ‘umpire’s call.’

Rohit Sharma brought Bumrah back for short spells, hoping to finish off the lower order, but that didn’t materialize as planned.

Mitchell Starc was run out by Rishabh Pant, and Cummins fell to Jadeja, caught by Rohit at slip for 41, but the final-wicket stand remained unbeaten.

Lyon and Boland frustrated India for 25 overs across both innings, extending Australia’s lead comfortably past 300.

While India couldn’t end Australia’s innings by stumps, the hosts chose not to declare either, as the pitch seemed to be becoming more favorable for batting.

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