IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates: Smith, Green steady Australia after early setbacks; Australia take 150-plus lead

IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 4 Live Updates: Mohammed Siraj struck two in one over while debutants Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar picked a wicket each as Australia faltered after a good start to put India on top in the opening session of day four of the fourth Test at The Gabba on Monday.

Australia was ahead in the game with the lead of over 120 runs with 10 wickets in the bag after a couple of expensive overs from the visitors but a flurry of wickets after the first hour of play saw the hosts on the backfoot. At the lunch break, Australia’s score reads 149/4, extending their lead to 182 runs. Steve Smith and Cameron Green are currently unbeaten on 28 and 4 runs respectively. In the first session, 128 runs were scored from 35 overs and the visitors managed to strike four wickets.

Navdeep Saini, who was taken for scans after complaining of groin pain on day one, bowled three overs in the first session as visitors’ bowling attack came firing on all cylinders.
Resuming day four at 21/0, Marcus Harris and David Warner added 68 runs to the overnight score before Shardul Thakur sent Harris back.

In the next over, Washington Sundar trapped Warner in front of the stumps to reduce Australia at 91/2. Runs kept coming at a rapid pace and the departure of Aussie openers didn’t have any impact on the scoring rate.

However, Mohammed Siraj struck two wickets in the first over of the new spell dismissing both Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade. While Labuschagne scored a brisk 25 off 22 balls, Wade departed without troubling the scoreboard.

Smith and Green then ensured India doesn’t make any more inroads as Australia extended their lead to 182 runs before the end of the first session

On day three, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur showed grit and determination to keep India in the game before Australia bundled out India for 336 in the first innings courtesy of a five-wicket haul by Josh Hazlewood.

Shardul and Washington’s 123-run resilient partnership had enabled visitors to reach the 300-run mark after losing six wickets under 190 runs in their first essay.

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.