4th Test
Day-5 Evening Session Highlights:
Australia has taken a 2-1 lead as India has collapsed in the final session
Australia scored 474 (1st Innings) & 234 (2nd Innings), where as India scored 369 (1st Innings) & 155 (2nd Innings).
So, finally Australia beat India by 184 runs.
A massive crowd at the MCG witnessed a memorable Australian victory as Pat Cummins’s side triggered an Indian collapse—7 wickets for just 34 runs—in the final session to take a 2-1 series lead.
The turning point came after Tea when Rishabh Pant, succumbing to his temptation, mishit a half-tracker from part-timer Travis Head and was caught by Mitchell Marsh at long-on.
Pant’s rash shot severely derailed India’s hopes of holding on for a draw, as Australia seized the momentum with two more wickets in the next 27 deliveries.
Scott Boland struck first, getting a delivery to rise from a length that fended off Ravindra Jadeja, who edged it behind.
Nathan Lyon then added to Australia’s confidence, dismissing first-innings centurion Nitish Reddy for just 1 run, with Steve Smith taking the catch at first slip.
India slumped from 121/3 to 130/6, and Australia’s belief in taking a series lead grew.
Washington Sundar came to the crease with five close-in fielders around him, his team’s hopes pinned on his resilience.
Sam Konstas, stationed at silly point, attempted to unsettle Sundar and Jaiswal with constant chatter.
After Boland’s brief but effective spell, Cummins returned to the attack and struck the decisive blow, dismissing Jaiswal.
The India opener attempted a pull shot against a short ball but failed to make solid contact.
Australia appealed for caught behind, and although the on-field umpire Joel Wilson turned the appeal down, Cummins immediately reviewed.
The replays showed a clear deflection as the ball passed the bat and glove, but the Snicko revealed no significant spike.
However, the third umpire overturned the on-field decision based on the ball’s deviation, leaving India seven down.
Akash Deep lasted just 16 balls before nicking Boland to Head at forward short leg.
The fifth day began with India’s top order faltering against the new ball.
Rohit Sharma attempted to flick a full delivery from Pat Cummins but edged it to the gully.
KL Rahul faced an exceptional delivery from Cummins in the same over, unable to avoid the outside edge.
Virat Kohli fell prey to his familiar weakness, chasing a wide ball outside the off-stump and edging it just before lunch.
Jaiswal and Pant’s defiance in the middle session gave India a glimmer of hope for a draw, but the game quickly turned into a desperate situation, with all nine fielders around the bat in search of the final two wickets.
Boland got Jasprit Bumrah to nick one to Steve Smith at first slip, and Lyon sealed the victory by trapping Mohammed Siraj leg before.
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