Brisbane: India and Australia are battling for their fourth Test. On the fifth day of the rain threat, both teams have a chance to win and the match will be drawn. Australia’s second innings ended at 294 yesterday. Including the first innings lead of 33 runs, India’s target was 328. The rain stopped play when India were bowled out for four without losing a wicket.
Rohit Sharma is at the crease with four runs and Shubhman Gill is at the crease with no runs. With 10 wickets in hand one day, India need another 324 runs to win. It is forecast to rain here on the fifth day as well.
Mohammad Siraj, who took five wickets, and Shardul Thakur, who took four wickets, bowled brilliantly to end Australia’s innings at 294. For the first time in his career, Siraj took five wickets. This is the first five-wicket haul by an Indian bowler in the series.
Steve Smith scored a half-century for Australia in the second innings. Smith, who faced 74 balls, scored 55 runs with seven fours. Marcus Harris (38 off 82 balls), David Warner (48 off 75 balls), Marnus Labushen (25 off 22 balls), Matthew Wade (0), Cameron Green (37 off 90 balls), Tim Payne (27 off 37 balls) and Pat Cummins (51) Mitchell Starc (one off 28), Nathan Lyon (13 off 10) and Josh Heiselwood (nine off 11) were the other notable contributors. Siraj took five wickets for 73 runs in 19.5 overs while Shardul Thakur took four wickets for 61 runs in 19 overs. Washington Sunder has the remaining wicket.
Marcus Harris and David Warner added 89 runs for the opening wicket to give Australia a flying start. Both the batsmen scored 89 runs from 25 overs crease. However, in the last ball of the 25th over, Marcus Harris was dismissed by Shardul Thakur. Harris, who scored 38 off 82 balls with eight fours, was caught by Rishabh off Thakur.
Australia then lost four more wickets for 34 runs. With this, Australia came under pressure. David Warner (48 off 75 balls with six fours), Marnus Labushein (25 off 22 balls) and Matthew Wade (0) were out. Steve Smith, who later completed his half-century partnership with Cameron Green (73) for the fifth wicket, held Australia back. Siraj returned Smith with a score of 196. Cameron Green was also sent off after a 31-run partnership with Tim Payne. Green, who hit 37 off 90 balls with three fours, was bowled by Rohit Sharma on a Thakur slip. When the score reached 242, Tim Payne also returned. Rishabh catches Thakur’s ball. The Waltons then added 52 runs to take Australia to 294.
Earlier in the day, newcomers Washington Sunder and Shardul Thakur shared a record 7th – wicket partnership in the first innings as India strengthened on the third day of the final Test against Australia. Both bowled brilliantly, taking two wickets apiece and scoring half-centuries.
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