India lost 4 wickets for 44 runs in reply to Australia’s 445 runs in the first innings in Brisbane. Given the fragile condition of the top order, it seemed that Rohit Sharma’s team might have to follow-on. However, India avoided follow-on in the end due to the clash between Lokesh Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja.
Australia had to restrict the Indians to 246 runs to follow-on. The hosts could not do that. India ended the fourth day’s play at 252 for 9. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah are at the wicket. After the play was stopped several times due to rain, the game ended early due to poor lighting. India is now trailing by 193 runs.
India started the fourth day’s play at the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane on Tuesday with 51 for 4 wickets. Rohit Sharma, who was trying to settle down, was out after adding 23 runs to the team. The Indian captain was caught behind the wicket by Alex Carr off Pat Cummins after scoring 10 runs off 27 balls.
Lokesh Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja put on a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket. This was India’s highest partnership in the first innings. Rahul scored 84 runs (8 fours) off 139 balls. The right-handed Indian opener was caught at slips by Steve Smith off Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon with the team’s 147 runs.
Jadeja put on a 53-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy for the seventh wicket. This partnership took the Indians’ score close to 200. Reddy was bowled by Cummins for 16 runs off 61 balls.
Mohammed Siraj was dismissed quickly. He was caught behind the wicket by Carr off Mitchell Starc after 11 balls. Jadeja was also caught by Cummins. With the team on 213, he was caught by Mitchell Marsh while trying to hit a bouncy ball from the Aussie pacer. Before being dismissed, he scored 77 runs (7 fours and 1 six) off 123 balls.
The unbeaten partnership of 39 runs by Bumrah and Akash Deep for the tenth wicket played a major role in avoiding the follow-on. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir were not seen expressing their excitement in the dressing room after watching the two play.
Pat Cummins took 4 wickets for Australia, Mitchell Starc took 3 and Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon took 1 wicket each.
Australia: 445
India: 252/9 in 74.5 overs (Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77, Akash Deep 27, Nitish Kumar 16, Rohit Sharma 10, Jasprit Bumrah 10; Pat Cummins 4/80, Mitchell Starc 3/83).
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