ICC Test Championship
Border Gavaskar Test Series; Vodaphone Test Series
4th Test
Australia VS India Played at Woolloongabba, Brisbane from 15-19 January 2021
Brief Score Card At Stumps Day Four:
Australia 1st Innings 369 All Out in 115.2 Overs (Marnus Labuchangne 108, Tim Paine 50, Matthew Wade 47, Steve Smith 36, Nathan Lyon 24, Mitchel Starc 20*, T Natarajan 3/ 78, Shardul Thakur 3/94, Washington Sundar 3/ 89)
Australia 2nd Innings 294 All Out in 75.4 Overs (Steve Smith 55, David Warner 48, Marcus Harris 38, Cameron Green 37, Pat Cummins 28*, Tim Paine 27, Marnus Labuchagne 25, Mohammad Siraj 5/73, Shardul Thakur /61, Washington Sunder 1/ 80)
India 1st Innings: 336 All Out in 111.4 Overs (Shardul Thakur 67, Washington Sundar 62, Rohit Sharma 44, Maynak Agarwall 38, Ajinka Rahane 37, Cheteswar Pujara 25, Josh Hazelwood 5/57, Mitchel Starc 2/88, Pat Cummins 2/94, Nathan Lyon 1/65)
India 2nd Innings 4/0 in 1.5 Overs
India needs 324 Runs, Australia Needs 10 Wickets For Winning The Series
Australia batting as much aggressively possible confronting consistent high quality Indian bowling could master 294 all out in the second innings. That challenged Team India scoring 328 runs for winning the test and the series in three sessions and one and a half hour of day four. India started but cyclonic rain disrupted play, causing suspension after 1.5 overs. India was 4/0. Almost the entire night heavy rain lashed northern Queensland. Rain ceased since early morning. If no rain is there on day five today Gabba will witness one of the most fascinating contests of two evenly matched teams.
Such an exciting situation rarely happens in bilateral test series. The last day of the last test of Border –Gavaskar test series between two superpowers of modern-day cricket culminated to a situation where all three possibilities have emerged. If cyclonic rain does not disrupt win of either India or Australia as well as draw is possible.
Wicket developed cracks at business areas. Inconsistent bounces caused stroke making extremely challenging when Australia resumed at 21/0. Indian bowlers Siraj, Shardul, Natarajan and Sundar kept plugging away at the right channel. Warner and Harris were looking good. Siraj was particularly exploiting the conditions well. Thakur and Sundar removing Harris (38) and Warner (48) within short space halted the progress of Australia. Labuchagne (25) and Wade (0) were also accounted for my Siraj before they could make much damage. However, Smith (55) and Green (37) playing to the best of their ability added 73 for 5th wicket partnership kept Australia in the game. Indian bowlers did not give any free bees. Contributions of Pain (27) and Cummins (28*) led Australia reaching 294 All Out. Impressive Siraj taking (5 / 73) and Shardul grabbing (4/61) ensured that Australia did not bat India out of the match. India required scoring 328 in three sessions and 90 minutes of day four. But forecasted rain came and disrupted days play after 1.5 overs. India needs another 324 on day five for inscribing a new chapter in their cricket history. Australia needs 10 wickets for winning the series and recovering Border –Gavaskar trophy. Even a draw will be enough for India for holding on to the trophy. Australia has not lost any test at Gabba over the past 31 Years. India has never won a test at Gabba.
CRICKET WORLD IS WAITING WITH FINGERS CROSSED FOR AN EXCITING FINISH OF THE ABSORBING TEST SERIES. IT IS NOT RAINING AT EARLY MORNING OF DAY FIVE, BUT SKY REMAINS OVERCAST.
BDST: 1203 HRS, JAN 19, 2021
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