A modern great’s ton ensured Australia’s dominance while a youngster’s counter-punch helmed India’s brief resistance. Steve Smith’s fluent 140 placed the host in a dominant position in the fourth Test on Friday (December 27, 2024).
The former Australian captain’s ton helped Pat Cummins and his men post 474 in the first innings. At the second day’s close here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India, after riding on Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 82, finished with 164 for five. The 22-year-old was set for a big knock before a mix-up with Virat Kohli, triggered a run-out.
Prior to this evening meltdown, India’s first innings commenced with Rohit Sharma returning as an opener. The skipper punched Cummins for initial runs and with Jaiswal looking confident, India nursed hopes. But they were dashed when Rohit attempted to pull Cummins, paused mid-stride and popped a catch.
K.L. Rahul walked in and drove with elan while southpaw Jaiswal upper-cut Cummins. The duo settled in but on the brink of tea, Cummins castled Rahul with a delivery that curled in and then straightened to rattle the timber. India 51 for two, and in trouble.
Australia’s Scott Boland celebrates the wicket of India’s Akash Deep during play on the second day of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on December 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AP
In the last session, Kohli was greeted with a mixture of boos and the ‘Kohli’ chants. His petty run-in with debutant Sam Konstas on Thursday, has obviously split his fandom. Shutting out the noise, he drove Cummins and Mitchell Starc on either side of the pitch.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal tucked into Starc, lofted Nathan Lyon, and hoisted Mitchell Marsh for six. More was on offer but when he dabbed Scott Boland straight to Cummins and scampered for a risky single, Kohli did not budge. It became a triple blow as the latter edged Boland and nightwatchman Akash Deep fell for a blob.
Earlier in the morning, Australia resumed at the overnight 311 for six. Just as the sun lit up the venue, the host’s first innings gained runs through shots and the odd edge as Smith and Cummins stitched a fine seventh-wicket partnership.
Some avoidable drama happened when a fan ran in. Rohit deftly avoided the intruder while Kohli found a stranger’s arm around his shoulder before the security personnel stepped in. India’s struggle became evident when Smith pulled a six off Jasprit Bumrah.
Soon the former Australian captain reached his 34th Test hundred and while crossing over, Kohli patted the centurion. The alliance worth 112 runs concluded when Cummins freed his arms against Ravindra Jadeja and offered a catch in the deep.
With Mohammed Siraj bowling wide bouncers, runs were gifted. Australia had a lunch score of 454 for seven with the morning session yielding 143 from 27 overs. In the afternoon, Jadeja got one to beat Starc’s bat. Smith (140) remained aggressive but when he failed to clear Akash over the in-field, the ball grazed his bat and rolled onto his stumps.
The last-wicket pair of Lyon and Boland added some mirth with two successful reviews. Finally Rohit leant on Bumrah (four for 99) to prise out a wicket, and then prepared for his short-lived opening stint.
Scores:
Australia – 1st innings: Sam Konstas lbw b Jadeja 60 (65b, 6×4, 2×6), Usman Khawaja c Rahul b Bumrah 57 (121b, 6×4), Marnus Labuschagne c Kohli b Washington 72 (145b, 7×4), Steve Smith b Akash 140 (197b, 13×4, 3×6),Travis Head b Bumrah 0 (7b), Mitchell Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 4 (13b, 1×4), Alex Carey c Pant b Akash 31 (41b, 1×4), Pat Cummins c Nitish b Jadeja 49 (63b, 7×4), Mitchell Starc b Starc 15 (36b, 1×6), Nathan Lyon lbw b Bumrah 13 (18b, 1×4), Scott Boland (not out) 6 (36b). Extras (lb-11, nb-6, w-10): 27; Total (all out in 122.4 overs): 474.
Fall of wickets: 1-89 (Konstas, 19.2 overs), 2-154 (Khawaja, 44.1), 3-237 (Labuschagne, 65.1), 4-240 (Head, 66.3), 5-246 (Marsh, 68.6), 6-299 (Carey, 82.1), 7-411 (Cummins, 104.1), 8-455 (Starc, 113.3), 9-455 (Smith, 114.1).
India bowling: Bumrah 28.4-9-99-4, Siraj 23-3-122-0, Akash 26-8-94-2, Jadeja 23-4-78-3, Nitish 7-0-21-0, Washington 15-2-49-1.
India – 1st innings: Yashasvi Jaiswal (run out) 82 (118b, 11×4, 1×6), Rohit Sharma c Boland b Cummins 3 (5b), K.L. Rahul b Cummins 24 (42b, 3×4), Virat Kohli c Carey b Boland 36 (86b, 4×4), Akash Deep c Lyon b Boland 0 (13b), Rishabh Pant (batting) 6 (7b), Ravindra Jadeja (batting) 4 (7b, 1×4). Extras (lb-2, nb-2, w-5): 9; Total (for five wkts., in 46 overs): 164.
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Rohit, 1.6 overs), 2-51 (Rahul, 14.6), 3-153 (Jaiswal, 40.6), 4-154 (Kohli, 42.1), 5-159 (Akash, 44.3).
Australia bowling: Starc 13-0-48-0, Cummins 13-2-57-2, Boland 12-3-24-2, Lyon 5-1-18-0, Marsh 3-0-15-0.
Published – December 27, 2024 06:59 am IST