Marnus Labuschagne’s impressive half-century and resilient batting from Australia’s tail end helped the team finish day four of the fourth Test in Melbourne with a commanding 333-run lead, putting India in a challenging position as they face a record chase for victory.
The Australian crowd was in high spirits as Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland left the field to loud applause, having formed an undefeated partnership of 55 runs for the last wicket, concluding the day with Australia at 228 for nine. Labuschagne scored 70 runs, while captain Pat Cummins contributed 41. The crowd witnessed a thrilling moment when India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who had a three-wicket spell before tea, had tempted a dramatic turnaround in the match.
Despite Australia initially looking solid at 80 for two, they faced a sudden collapse, losing four wickets for just 11 runs under Bumrah’s fierce attack, leaving them at a precarious 91 for six. However, Cummins displayed grit during this turbulent period, stabilizing the innings and forming crucial partnerships.
India’s fielding errors also proved costly, with dropped catches allowing key players like Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja to continue batting longer than they should have. Nevertheless, India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy found stability and resilience, crafting a maiden century with a score of 114 to keep India competitive in the match.
The attendance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for day four reached an impressive total of 299,329, setting a new record for a Boxing Day Test in the city.
The match is poised for an exciting conclusion, demonstrating the unpredictability of Test cricket and the thrilling performances from both teams. With India needing to overcome history to chase down more than 300 runs at the MCG, fans are eager to see if they can defy the odds and secure a memorable victory.
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