Marnus Labuschagne’s impressive half-century and resilient tail-end batting propelled Australia to a commanding 333-run lead at the conclusion of day four in the fourth Test held in Melbourne on Sunday. This puts India in a challenging position, requiring them to chase a record total to secure a remarkable victory.
The atmosphere at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was electric as Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland received a warm ovation from the home crowd after they forged an unbeaten partnership of 55 runs for the last wicket, resulting in Australia finishing the day at 228 for nine. Lyon remained not out on 41, while Boland contributed 10 runs.
With the five-match series tied at 1-1, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah posed a significant threat, capturing three wickets just before tea in front of an audience of 43,867 fans. However, Labuschagne (70) and Australia’s captain Pat Cummins (41) steadied the innings with a crucial 57-run partnership, combining effectively to negate Bumrah’s earlier breakthroughs and frustrate the Indian bowlers as the close of play approached.
India’s woes intensified towards the end of the day when Bumrah dismissed Lyon, who was caught in the slips, after a no-ball negation ignited frustration among the Indian players. Historically, only one team has successfully chased more than 300 runs to win a Test match at the MCG, with England achieving this feat back in 1928.
Australia’s tailenders showed resilience after a shaky middle-order performance, where the team found themselves struggling at 91 for six after an initial solid start at 80 for two. A turbulent spell led by Bumrah saw Australia lose four wickets in quick succession: a stark testament to Bumrah’s prowess as he clinched his 200th Test wicket during this period.
Despite the challenging phase, Cummins exhibited determined leadership, contributing crucial runs in the face of adversity. He, in particular, weathered the storm after Labuschagne’s dismissal, adding vital runs alongside Mitchell Starc and Lyon before being out to Ravindra Jadeja’s spin.
Fielding lapses proved costly for India as opportunities to take wickets were squandered, adding further frustration to their campaign. Yashasvi Jaiswal, in particular, dropped two critical chances, missing vital opportunities to dismiss Labuschagne and Khawaja, the latter ultimately bowled by Mohammed Siraj.
India’s resilience, however, shouldn’t be overlooked; they managed to remain competitive in the match, thanks to a brilliant century from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 114 runs. His exceptional innings came at a crucial time, helping to stabilize the team in a challenging context.
Notably, the day’s match attendance reached a total of 299,329 by the end of day four, marking a record for a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, reflecting cricket’s enduring appeal and the dramatic encounters of the Ashes series.
Looking ahead, while India faces an uphill battle, the thrilling nature of Test cricket promises excitement as they pursue a remarkable chase, bringing hope for a tense and competitive finish.
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