Jasprit Bumrah delivered another brilliant spell of bowling, but Australia battled back to reach 228-9 on Sunday, leading by 333 runs in the gripping fourth Test.
Bumrah tore through the middle order on day four in Melbourne, finishing with figures of 4-56 off 24 overs, giving India a slim chance of victory in a match largely dominated by the home side. However, India’s chances were further diminished by a resilient, unbroken final-wicket partnership of 55 off 17.5 overs. Nathan Lyon was unbeaten on 41, while number 11 Scott Boland survived 65 balls to remain 10 not out at the close.
Australia, who led by 105 runs after the first innings, suffered a dramatic collapse in the second session, losing four wickets for just 11 runs, slipping to 91-6. Marnus Labuschagne and captain Pat Cummins then steadied the ship with a crucial 57-run stand, easing Bumrah’s pressure.
Labuschagne top-scored with 70, backing up his first-innings 72, while Cummins contributed 41, marking a career-high total of 90 runs for the Test. Both teams aim to go 2-1 up in the series, heading into the fifth and final Test in Sydney. Australia remains in a stronger position on a pitch showing signs of uneven bounce.
Despite a challenging situation, Labuschagne expressed confidence in the middle and lower-order batting, noting that the lower order had given them an excellent position with a 333-run lead.
BRILLIANT BUMRAH
Bumrah, who has claimed 29 wickets this series, continued his dominance, passing 200 Test wickets and boasting the lowest average of all bowlers to reach this milestone. He had Labuschagne beaten on several occasions but the Australian number three kept his composure in a gritty 139-ball innings.
Labuschagne was fortunate to survive a dropped catch on 46, and also had another close escape when Cummins offered a sharp chance that was missed. Bumrah’s brilliance saw him remove Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Alex Carey in quick succession, with Marsh failing to score once again.
Australia lost both openers before lunch, with Sam Konstas, who had scored 60 on debut, dismissed for eight by Bumrah. Usman Khawaja was bowled for 21 by Siraj, after being dropped early by Yashasvi Jaiswal at leg gully.
India was bowled out for 369 in reply to Australia’s 474, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, the maiden centurion, being the last man out for 114. Reddy’s knock marked the highest Test score for any player batting at number eight or lower in Melbourne.
Reddy believes India can still chase a “big total” if they apply themselves on the pitch.
SCOREBOARD
India (1st Innings, overnight 358-9):
- Y. Jaiswal run out (Cummins) 82
- R. Sharma c Boland b Cummins 3
- L. Rahul b Cummins 24
- V. Kohli c Carey b Boland 36
- A. Deep c Lyon b Boland 0
- R. Pant c Lyon b Boland 28
- R. Jadeja lbw Lyon 17
- N. Kumar Reddy c Starc b Lyon 114
- W. Sundar c Smith b Lyon 50
- J. Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0
- M. Siraj not out 4
- Extras (LB-2, NB-4, W-5): 11
- Total (all out, 119.3 overs): 369
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Sharma), 2-51 (Rahul), 3-153 (Jaiswal), 4-154 (Kohli), 5-159 (Deep), 6-191 (Pant), 7-221 (Jadeja), 8-348 (Sundar), 9-350 (Bumrah)
BOWLING: Starc 25-2-86-0 (3nb), Cummins 29-6-89-3 (1w), Boland 27-7-57-3, Lyon 28.3-4-96-3, Marsh 7-1-28-0 (1nb), Head 3-0-11-0
Australia (2nd Innings):
- S. Konstas b Bumrah 8
- U. Khawaja b Siraj 21
- M. Labuschagne lbw Siraj 70
- S. Smith c Pant b Siraj 13
- T. Head c Reddy b Bumrah 1
- M. Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 0
- A. Carey b Bumrah 2
- P. Cummins c Sharma b Jadeja 41
- M. Starc run out (Pant) 5
- N. Lyon not out 41
- S. Boland not out 10
- Extras (LB-9, NB-6, W-1): 16
- Total (for nine wickets, 82 overs): 228
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-20 (Konstas), 2-43 (Khawaja), 3-80 (Smith), 4-85 (Head), 5-85 (Marsh), 6-91 (Carey), 7-148 (Labuschagne), 8-156 (Starc), 9-173 (Cummins)
BOWLING: Bumrah 24-7-56-4 (4nb), Deep 17-4-53-0 (1nb), Siraj 22-4-66-3 (1w), Jadeja 14-2-33-1 (1nb), Reddy 1-0-4-0, Sundar 4-0-7-0
