NEW DELHI: India suffered a familiar collapse as they floundered at 164/5 on day two of the fourth Test against Australia. Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. The turning point came after the inexplicable dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal, whose touch with the ball was outstanding. A sharp spurt from Pat Cummins while trying a quick single with Virat Kohli shattered the momentum.
Trailing by 310 runs and with the follow-on on a good batting track, India face a tough battle against Australia’s resurgent attack led by Scott Boland and Cummins.
Scorecard: India vs Australia, 4th Test
Jaiswal runs out of sparks and knocks down the collapse
A miscommunication brought Jaiswal’s brilliant game to a screeching halt, triggering India’s dramatic collapse on the second day of the fourth Test. Jaiswal, who struck a flowing 82 off 118 balls, looked destined for a century but was run out after a mix-up with Kohli while trying a quick single. Kohli was caught in two minds and retreated too late when Cummins’ direct delivery ended Jaiswal’s stay.
Seven balls later, Kohli himself was bowled off a Scott Boland delivery outside off-stump, ending his disciplined 36-ball spell. Dismissed in the penultimate over of the day, India were reeling at 164/5, still trailing by 310 runs.
Jaiswal-Kohli partnership brings hope
India’s hopes rested on the tenacious partnership between Jaiswal and Kohli, who scored 102 for the third wicket. After KL Rahul (24) was dismissed for Cummins’ sharp knock, Jaiswal and Kohli combined to stabilize the side with confident batting and solid fielding. Jaiswal, in particular, impressed with his smooth drives, cuts and pulls, finishing with a total of 11 fours and a six.
However, the young opener’s dismissal not only ended his innings but also spoiled India’s momentum as wickets fell rapidly thereafter.
Rohit Sharma Failed as an opener
Captain Rohit Sharma’s opening move backfired. In the second round, he was knocked out by just three points, culminating in a pull-up shot from Cummins. Scott Boland’s easy catch gave India an early reply to Australia’s huge first-innings total of 8-1.
Australian dollar shakes tail to extend lead
Australia resumed play with scores of 311/6 overnight, adding crucial runs in the lower order to reach 474 before being bowled out. Steve Smith and Pat Cummins combined for a 112-run stand for the seventh wicket, beating the Indian bowlers to push the score to over 400.
India fought back briefly after lunch to take the last three wickets for just 20 runs, but by then the damage had been done. Smith was eventually dismissed for an untimely charge as he was bowled for a brilliant 140 by Akash Deep.
Steve Smith hits 100% record
Smith’s 34th Test century was the cornerstone of the Australian innings. From the 68th over, he controlled the proceedings with a combination of caution and aggression, becoming the first batsman to score 11 centuries against India. Smith’s effort, coupled with Cummins’ gritty 49, ensured Australia posted a formidable total on a batting-friendly surface.
