Bumrah shines with four wickets but Australia’s tail goes beyond 300 on day four of the fourth Test.
Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah was at his unplayable best at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day four of the fourth Test, taking 4-56 including his 200th wicket in a stunning performance against Australia.
Bumrah dominated Australia’s middle order on Sunday, removing Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey cheaply before rattling the tail end of the home side, reaching 228-9 at stumps, with one day of play remaining. Australia lead by 333 runs with the five-match series level at 1-1.
Earlier, Australia lost four wickets for 11 runs in 22 deliveries, falling from 80-2 to 91-6 in a dramatic collapse in the middle order after lunch.
But the home team recovered thanks to a 57-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Pat Cummins (41).
India resumed Sunday with a score of 358-9 and were bowled out for 369 in reply to the home team’s 474.
Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 114. This was the 21-year-old’s maiden century in his fourth Test. Cummins (3-89), Scott Boland (3-57) and spinner Nathan Lyon (3-96) took three wickets each.
Reddy said having family and friends, including his father, Mutyala, watching as he scored his maiden Test century was a special moment.
“That was a special century for me and my father,” Reddy said. “When I was nothing, my father was the first person who believed in me. He believed in me and quit his job for me.
“He made a lot of sacrifices. I’m so grateful to have a father like him.”
Australia slowly built to 53-2 from 25 overs by lunch in the second over on a pitch that continued to offer lateral movement. Openers Sam Kontas (eight) and Usman Khawaja (21) left before half-time.
Mohammed Siraj (3-66) caused a collapse by removing first-innings century-maker Steve Smith who was caught behind for 13 at 80-3.
In the next over, Bumrah chipped in twice. The 31-year-old claimed his 200th wicket, removing a header caught at front square leg for a single, and Marsh was caught behind four balls later for a duck.
Bumrah, who has played 44 Tests, took his fourth wicket of the innings when he bowled Carey (2) in the next over as Australia staggered to 91-6.
Labuschagne described Bumrah’s bowling, who took 29 wickets in the series at an average of 13.24, as “relentless”.
“He bowls with relentless length. He attacks the stumps. He’s tough to move around,” said Labuschagne. “He was hot. He had three wickets in two overs. He was very good in this series.”
Yashavi Jaiswal missed three catches down the field, including dropping Labuschagne in the gully at 46, and Cummins at 21 at ridiculous point.
Australia regained their composure, pushing the lead beyond 250, before Siraj trapped Labuschagne lbw for 148-7. Mitchell Starc (5) was run out shortly after tea at 156-8.
Cummins was caught at slip after 17 runs, but India wasted a fourth chance when Siraj wasted a catch and bowled with Lyon at number five.
Lyon (41 not out) and Boland (10 not out) added to India’s frustration with an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the last wicket. Bumrah brought Lyon to a 35-run skid in the final over of the day, but it was no ball.
The highest successful run chase in a Test match since 2000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is 231-2 for Australia in 2013-14 against England.
Reddy said it would be important to have “one or two good partnerships” to give India a chance of winning.
“We could see later in the fourth day that the pitch was performing a little bit more,” Reddy said. “We don’t need to put more pressure (on ourselves) by saying the stadium is doing this or that.”
The five-game series is tied 1-1. The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series is scheduled to begin on January 3, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
