IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 Live Updates: India lose Rohit Sharma early in their chase of 328; Australia on top

IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 Live Updates: The ongoing Test series between Australia and India has been nothing short of a thriller. And the climax looks set to give a Hollywood movie a run for its money. India are chasing 328-run target on the final day at Australia’s fortress -The Gabba and all three results –  win, lose or draw are possible.

A win will see the ‘injury-ravaged’ Indians register back-to-back series wins on Australian soil and a draw will see them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against all odds. But the pitch isn’t getting any better at The Gabba and with the odd ball misbehaving after hitting the cracks, the Indian batsmen need to ensure that they keep the scoreboard moving at every given opportunity. Buying time in the middle might not be the best idea as there will be unplayable deliveries every now and then which will have a batsman’s name on it.

5:35 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 Live Updates

OUT! India lose their first wicket as Pat Cummins removes Rohit Sharma. Slightest seam movement just wide of the channel, and Rohit edges it to the keeper while trying to defend it. Rohit c Paine b Cummins 7(21) [4s-1], IND 18/1

5:15 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 Live Updates

What India is dealing with today…

📺 Watch Day 5 #AUSvIND on Fox Cricket or Kayo: https://t.co/9BpN7p3sZp

📝Live blog: https://t.co/peBsCNpx63

📱Match Centre: https://t.co/ApeG4HBAF0 pic.twitter.com/SIblKaOS2M

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 19, 2021

4:45 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 Live Updates

It is the final day of the Border-Gavaskar series and that’s the pitch for Day 5. A very gentle drizzle at the moment but play should start soon. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WWd4J8yZ3S

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2021

Earlier on Day 4, with rain playing spoilsport, the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill could face just 1.5 overs on the fourth evening before the umpires decided to call for early stumps. With Rohit unbeaten on 4 off 6 balls and Gill yet to score from the five balls he has faced, it will all be about starting afresh for the visitors on the final morning.

Earlier, it was poetic justice that Mohammed Siraj picked his maiden fifer as India dismissed Australia for 294 in their second innings – a target of 328. The hosts began the third session on 243/7 with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at the crease. But the Indians did not take much time to get the first breakthrough of the session as Siraj dismissed Starc (1), bringing Nathan Lyon to the crease.

While Cummins (unbeaten on 28) and Lyon (13) did trouble the Indian bowling a bit, it was a decent enough performance from the Indian pacers to pick the last three wickets for 52 runs. While Siraj finished with figures of 5/73, Shardul Thakur picked four wickets and Washington Sundar picked one.

The first two sessions saw both teams looking to grab advantage and while certain periods were dominated by the likes of Steve Smith (55) and Cameron Green (37), the Indian bowlers also kept putting in their 100 per cent as they looked to attack and dismiss the Australian batsmen rather than waiting for them to make mistakes.

While Smith and Green added 73 important runs, skipper Tim Paine and Green then stitched a brief 31-run partnership before Shardul removed the all-rounder in the 61st over. The innings saw another crucial partnership between Cummins and Lyon that fetched the hosts 27 runs.

12:10 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Rain has stopped play once again as India are chasing the target of 328-run. The chances of resumption is looking slimmer as it’s really dark in Brisbane.

11:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Australia lose their ninth wicket as Shardul removes Nathan Lyon. Thakur one away from a fifer… Lyon c Agarwal b Thakur 13(10) [6s-1], AUS 274/9

11:10 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Siraj strikes just after the rain break to remove Mitchell Starc. Australia are eight down now with a lead of more than 280 runs.

 

10:10 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

It has started drizzling in Brisbane which has forced early Tea break. Australia are leading by 276 runs with three wickets in hand.

 

9:55 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Shardul strikes again and this it’s Australian skipper Tim Paine who walks back. Short-pitched ball and Paine goes for a hard pull but only manages to edge it as wicket-keeper Pant takes a good overhead catch. Paine c Pant b Thakur 27(37) [4s-3], AUS 242/7

9:35 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Shardul removes well-set batsman Cameron Green. Leg-cutter on good length, bounced a bit on the batsman and Green edged it to Rohit at second slip while trying to defend it. Green c Rohit b Thakur 37(90) [4s-3], AUS 227/6

9:05 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Siraj sends back Steve Smith. Huge wicket for India. Takes off from a length and takes the thumb of the bottom-hand – knocks the hand off the bat, and that loops to Rahane at gully. Smith c Rahane b Siraj 55(74) [4s-7], AUS 196/5

8:50 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

FIFTY for Steve Smith and it’s an important one for Australia as they eye big lead against India.

 

8:20 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Steve Smith and Cameron Green are rebuilding Australia’s innings after the hosts lost four quick wickets before lunch.

 

7:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Lunch Break

 

6:43 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Siraj picks his second of the over and removes Matthew Wade for duck. Fuller and angling down leg, Wade feels for it and sends the thinnest of tickles off the blade as Pant with a full-length dive to his right takes a good catch. Wade c Pant b Siraj 0(3)

 

6:40 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Siraj gets a big fish as he sends back Labuschagne, who hit a century in the first innings. Outside edge and it goes straight into the hands of Rohit Sharma at second slip. Labuschagne c Rohit b Siraj 25(22) [4s-5]

6:20 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Sundar strikes to remove Warner. Big wicket for India. It’s a plumb. Sundar shortened his length by a fraction and got Warner stuck to the crease. Warner lbw b Washington Sundar 48(75) [4s-6], AUS 91/2

This was a complete DRS fail… 🤦🏻‍♂️ #AUSvIND

Brought to you by @Sonos 🔈 pic.twitter.com/FIJiis0SL6

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 18, 2021

6:10 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

OUT! Shardul removes Harris. A much-needed breakthrough for India. Banged in short and Harris got into a clumsy position on the leave – but couldn’t get his gloves out of the way as he flicked through to the keeper as Pant takes an easy catch. Marcus Harris c Pant b Thakur 38(82) [4s-8], AUS 89/1

5:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Warner and Harris complete 50-run stand as Australia now aim to take a big lead and put India on backfoot.

 

5:00 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Warner and Harris resume innings for Australia as Siraj bowls thee first over of the day.

4:45 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of Day 4 from the Gabba. First up the #TeamIndia huddle. #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/KnIgePjnM1

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2021

4:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates

Smudge on how he thinks the day will play out 👀

📺 Watch Day 4 #AUSvIND on Fox Cricket or https://t.co/ROsyGbr2HV

📝Live blog: https://t.co/5vMhnEGboT

📱Match Centre: https://t.co/ApeG4HTc3A pic.twitter.com/WJ21HyF4tY

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 17, 2021

Earlier on Day 3, Washington (62) and Thakur (67) added 123 runs for the seventh wicket after India lost four wickets.

In the six overs that Australia had to negotiate before stumps, the hosts scored 21 in their second innings with openers David Warner (20) and Marcus Harris (1) hardly looking troubled by the Indian bowlers

Australia’s overall lead stands at 54 runs.

Resuming at 62 for two, Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane (37) was watchful till he went for a flashy drive off Mitchell Starc and ended up getting caught in the slip cordon.

Before his dismissal, Cheteshwar Pujara (25) fell to a peach of a delivery off Josh Hazlewood in the opening session.

In the second session, India lost Mayank Agarwal (38) and young Rishabh Pant (23) and innings seemed to be falling apart but Washington and Thakur resisted the Australian attack with aplomb.

Thakur’s combative knock ended when Pat Cummins went through his gates while Washington was dismissed by Starc in the final session.

 

12:30 pm: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

India bowled out for 336 in first innings, trail Australia by 33 runs.

 

12:15 pm: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Star debutant Washington Sundar departs after a gritty half-century, which helped India to reduce their deficit.  Washington Sundar c Green b Starc 62(144) [4s-7 6s-1]

12:10 pm: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Navdeep Saini gone but no surprises there as he was looking uncomfortable in the middle, maybe because of his groin injury. Back of a length delivery by Hazlewood and it takes outside edge before travelling straight to Smith at second slip. Fourth wicket of the match for Hazlewood. Navdeep Saini c Smith b Hazlewood 5(14) [4s-1]

11:35 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Bowled! Finally a breakthrough for Australia as Cummins sends back Shardul Thakur. End of the 100-plus run partnership between him and Sundar. Thakur b Cummins 67(115) [4s-9 6s-2]

11:20 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

TRIVIA

• The last time India’s #7 and #8 scored 50+ in same innings in an away Test, neither of them a wicketkeeper, was at Manchester in 1982 (Sandeep Patil 129* & Kapil Dev 65).
• WASHINGTON SUNDAR becomes the second Indian player to hit a 50+ debut batting innings and take three-plus wickets in his debut bowling innings after Dattu Phadkar (51 & 3/14 vs Aus, SCG, 1947/48).

11:15 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

FIFTIES for both Shardul Thakur and debutant Washington Sundar and that’s their maiden Test half-century. What a superb innings by both the players! Australia are more than desperate for a breakthrough here.

 

10:55 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

Australia have now begun to scratch their heads as Shardul and Sundar are taking on the bowlers and putting the pressure on them. Has tables turned here?

10:15 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

 

9:50 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

Shardul and Washington have stitched a crucial 50-plus run partnership as India put on a late fightback to frustrate Australia, who picked two quick wickets after lunch to put India on backfoot.

9:20 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

India’s deficit comes down to less than 150 run courtesy a late fightback by Shardul Thakur and debutant Washington Sundar.

 

8:40 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Hazlewood picks his third wicket of the match and this his victim is Rishabh Pant. Short of a length and well wide of off, Pant was looking to help it on its way but only managed to flap it straight to gully where Green took a sharp reflex catch. Pant c Green b Hazlewood 23(29) [4s-2], IND 186/6

8:15 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Australia strikes just after the lunch break as Hazlewood gets rid of Mayank Agarwal.  Loose drive from Mayank and he edges it straight to Smith at second slip. Agarwal c Smith b Hazlewood 38(75) [4s-3 6s-1]

7:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

LUNCH BREAK and India are struggling at 161/4 with two of their key players – Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara back in the pavilion. India still trail by 208 runs.

 

7:10 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Another big wicket for Australia as Starc removes Rahane, who goes for a drive but ends up edging it straight to Wade at third slip. Rahane c Wade b Starc 37(93) [4s-3], IND 144/4

6:45 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

Rahane and Agarwal are playing sensibly to steady India’s innings and avoid any other setback as Australia still lead by more than 200 runs.

 

6:00 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

OUT! Hazlewood gets the big fish Pujara and India in serious trouble now. Just straightens enough from a back of a length on off-stump and takes a feather of an outside edge as Pujara defends compactly on the backfoot, through to Tim Paine who takes a regulation catch. Pujara c Paine b Hazlewood 25(94) [4s-2]

5:30 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

 

5:15 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

That’s the Day 3 pitch. Your thoughts🤔 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XM4MMSx4iA

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 16, 2021

5:00 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

Rahane and Pujara resume the innings for India as Cummins resume the attack for Australia on Day 3 of the Ind vs Aus 4th Test in Brisbane.

Earlier on day 2, Rohit was elegant as ever in his 44 off 74 balls before Nathan Lyon in his 100th Test enticed him to come down the track but the half-chip-half-loft was safely pouched by Mitchell Starc in the deep.

Update: Play on Day 2 has been abandoned due to wet outfield. Play on Day 3 will resume at 9.30AM local time. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dN2bt53lcf

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 16, 2021

4:45 am: IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 3 Live Score

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of Day 3 of the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test from the Gabba. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RE27tXfCE8

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 16, 2021

India also lost Shubman Gill (7) who edged one off Pat Cummins to Steve Smith.

Cheteshwar Pujara (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (2) added only two runs in the 6.1 overs before the break.

There were six boundaries from Rohit but he did not fiddle at deliveries in and around the off-stump channel even as Cummins and Josh Hazlewood bowled a testing spell under overcast conditions.

The shot of the session was an on-drive off Cummins which came after a streaky boundary through the slips in the same over. Another delightful stroke was an off-drive off Cameron Green as 49 runs were added for the second wicket.

There wasn’t much swing on offer but the pace off the track has increased compared to the first day and it only helped that the Australian pace attack is a more well built one with the average speed being at least 6-7 kmph more than their Indian counterparts.

Pujara, at the other end, was playing his usual ‘grinding out’ game but it didn’t look too arduous till Rohit kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that among all top-order batsman across both sides, Rohit looked the most comfortable and till his dismissal never looked like being troubled by the four-pronged attack.

However as has been his form in SENA countries, Rohit just before the tea break went after Lyon when the situation demanded that he could have played for session-end.

It was very similar to his dismissal off Moeen Ali at the stroke of tea during the 2014 series and that was also after being set in the middle-order.

India, who have been forced to field a depleted side won’t mind an inclement weather which effectively makes the home team more jittery as a draw would be enough for Ajinkya Rahane to lift the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In the first session, India’s rookie bowling line-up did put up a lion-hearted effort, getting the last five wickets for 95 runs.

Shardul Thakur (3/94) along with debutants Washington Sundar (3/89) and Thangarasu Natarajan (3/78) got the breakthroughs while Mohammed Siraj (28-10-77-1) got one on the opening day.

For an attack as thin on experience as India, the effort in adverse times can only be commended. India lost five main bowlers through the three Test matches and were forced to hand Test debuts to Natarajan and Washington.

Nathan Lyon (24 off 22 balls) and Mitchell Starc (20 off 35 balls) counter-attacked the inexperienced Indian attack with a brisk 39-run partnership to take Australia past 350-run mark.

Going by statistics, Australia have never lost a Test match at the Gabba after scoring 350 in the first innings.

Resuming at 274 for five, Tim Paine (50) and Cameron Green (47) extended their stand to 98 before the home team encountered a mini-collapse.

Thakur bowled a fuller delivery that shaped away and Paine’s lazy drive without going to the pitch of the delivery saw Rohit Sharma take a regulation catch at the second slip.

Paine was just getting into the groove with some good drives when Thakur provided the breakthrough.

With the partnership broken, Green probably lost his concentration as he played for the turn to an angled delivery from Sundar which straightened after pitching and breached through his defences.

Pat Cummins (2) was adjudged leg before as he yorked himself to a fuller delivery from Thakur as Australia slumped from 311 for five to 315 for eight before the tail wagged once again to beef up the total.