Melbourne, Dec 29 (UNI) Australia extended their lead to 333 runs at the close of Day 4 of the fourth Test at the MCG, posting 228/9 in their second innings here on Sunday. This came after India had posted 369 in their first innings, with the match now firmly in Australia’s favour.
The day saw a hard-fought battle between the two teams, with Australia’s lower order showing resilience to frustrate India’s bowlers in the final session. Scott Boland (10*) and Nathan Lyon (41*) shared an invaluable 55-run stand, adding crucial runs and pushing Australia’s lead well beyond 300. Despite several chances to break this partnership, India could not capitalise, with key catches going down.
Lyon’s knock was particularly important, as he survived a potential dismissal when a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah (81.1) was called a no-ball. The very next ball saw Lyon square cut a short ball to the boundary, taking his score past 40. Moments later, a top edge off Akash Deep flew to the vacant region behind square, extending the lead to over 300 runs. Lyon, who had already shown signs of defiance earlier in the innings, was looking increasingly difficult to dismiss.
India’s frustrations deepened as missed opportunities started to pile up. In the afternoon session, Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped two catches in quick succession. First, Marnus Labuschagne was dropped at first slip, and then Pat Cummins also went on to survive a similar fate. The missed chances were particularly costly, allowing Australia to consolidate their position and extend their lead.
Earlier in the day, India had made solid inroads into Australia’s innings, with Bumrah leading the charge. His fiery spell reduced Australia’s middle order to rubble, as he dismissed Travis Head (1), Mitchell Marsh (0), and Alex Carey (2) in quick succession.
This spell earned him his 200th Test wicket, marking a historic achievement for the fast bowler. With figures of 4/56, Bumrah kept India in the hunt, but his efforts were undermined by the missed catches in the field.
Mohammed Siraj (3/66) supported Bumrah well, dismissing Usman Khawaja (21) and Steve Smith (13) to leave Australia at a precarious 91/6. However, Labuschagne held firm, defying India’s attack with a composed 70 before falling to Siraj.
Pat Cummins (41) also showed determination before falling to Ravindra Jadeja (1/33), as India began to take control of the Australian batting. But despite the breakthroughs, the missed catches ultimately allowed Australia to edge further ahead, with Lyon and Boland putting together a resilient partnership.
Rishabh Pant showed quick thinking and exceptional awareness, running out Mitchell Starc (5) with a direct hit after a mix-up with Cummins. The dismissal of Starc, coming before stumps, ended a long day of hard work for India.
Earlier in the morning, India’s innings folded quickly. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had earlier scored a brilliant 114 off 189 balls, was dismissed by Lyon, caught in the deep. India thus conceded a 105-run lead to Australia, which now looks set to become a mountain for the visitors to climb.
With the new ball available and the pitch showing signs of wear, India will need to make early breakthrough on Day 5 to keep the target within reach. Bumrah and Siraj remain India’s best hopes of restricting Australia’s lead and creating a competitive chase.
As the match heads into its final day, Australia is in a good position, but India will be hoping to fight back with their fast bowlers leading the charge. However, the missed chances on Day 4 may haunt India in their quest to pull off an improbable victory.
