AUS v IND 2018-19: 2nd Test, Day 4 – Australia in driver’s seat as India reduced to 112/5; requires 175 more runs to win

Mohammad Shami bagged career best figures of 6/56.

Usman Khawaja's 72 took Australia's lead to 286 runs | GettyThe fourth day of the second Test between Australia and India ended with Australia having a massive upper hand going into the final day.

The day started with Australia resuming their innings on 132/4 and Usman Khawaja took his personal score from 41 to 72 before he was dismissed by Mohammad Shami, caught by Rishabh Pant.

Tim Paine made 37 before Shami had him caught by Kohli. Though Starc (14) and Hazlewood (17) added valuable runs to the Australian total; Bumrah removed Cummins and Starc cheaply and Shami removed Lyon to complete his career-best Test figures of 6/56.

Australia made 243 and set India a target of 287 runs. Apart from Shami, Bumrah picked 3/39 and Ishant picked 1/45.

Mohammad Shami picked career best 6/56 | GettyTeam India had hoped for a solid start from their openers, but Mitchell Starc removed KL Rahul by shattering his stumps for a duck on the fourth ball of the first over. Then Hazlewood removed the consistent Pujara for just 4 runs.

Nathan Lyon struck two huge blows, first removing captain Kohli for 17, caught by Usman Khawaja and then disturbing the timber of M Vijay (20), leaving India 55/4.

Ajinkya Rahane (30) and Hanuma Vihari added 43 runs for the fifth wicket, but a false shot from Rahane off Hazlewood saw him being caught by Travis Head, leaving Team India in tatters.

By the stumps on day four, Hanuma Vihari remained unbeaten on 24 and Rishabh Pant on 9* with India on 112/5. Nathan Lyon (2/30) and Josh Hazlewood (2/24) were the main wicket takers for the Australian team.

This leaves the Indian team needing 175 runs to win on the final day with 5 wickets in hand and four tailenders to come. Australia easily finds themselves in driver’s seat going into the final day of the Perth Test in order to equalize the series 1-1.

BRIEF SCORES:
AUS 326 & 243 (U KHAWAJA 72; M Shami 6/56) AND IND 283 & 112/5 (A RAHANE 30; J HAZLEWOOD 2/24)
Day 4: India require another 175 runs with 5 wickets in hand

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 17 Dec, 2018

    Share Via