Steve Smith’s heroics and the collapse of India’s batting line-up in the closing stages ensured that Australia were firmly in control of the all-important fourth Test.
Australia’s ferocious pace attack crushed India’s top order to take control of the fourth Test after setting up a difficult first-time target on the back of Steve Smith’s 34th Test century.
The visitors were 164-5 at the end of Friday’s second day of play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, even after Smith’s stylish 140 put Australia out for 474 just after lunch. There was still a difference of 310 points.
Rishabh Pant was six not out and Ravindra Jadeja was four not out, and with 30 minutes left, India picked up three wickets and boosted India’s momentum at 153-2.
Scott Borland and Pat Cummins took two wickets each.
Skipper Rohit Sharma has returned to his regular role as an opener after dropping to sixth place in the last two Tests.
But that didn’t improve his recent abysmal form, as he spooned an attempted pull shot by Pat Cummins to Borland at mid-on for an easy catch, resulting in a three-out.
Cummins pounced again and removed the in-form KL Rahul on the last ball before tea time, bowling him for 24.
However, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal stood firm with a quality innings, playing well off the front foot and hitting one stylish boundary after another in his 82nd innings.
The 22-year-old, who scored 161 in the first Test in Perth, looked destined for another century, but threw away his wicket in a comical mix-up with Virat Kohli.
Jaiswal went for a quick single from Boland but his teammate poked no and the youngster was stranded, ending a dangerous 102-run stand.
Kohli was fined 20 per cent of his match fee for a shoulder charge on Australian debutant Sam Constas on the opening day, but was followed up by Alex Carey from Borland with 36 points, followed by night watchman Akash with no points. Pushed Deep away.
Smith takes control
The hosts resumed on 311-6 after a dominant opening day, scoring another 163 runs with a composed Smith hitting 13 fours and three sixes.
Smith again scored 68 points, and Cummins tied him with eight points.
They made 15 off one deep over, with Smith hooking Jasprit Bumrah for a six to rub salt in the wounds, but India’s body language showed their frustration.
Smith’s 34th Test century off Nitish Kumar Reddy comes after he returned to form after scoring 101 in the last Test in Brisbane.
With the landmark out of the way, both players started swinging their bats and Cummins paid the price as Reddy caught a fine 49 deep off Jadeja, ending the 112-run stand.
Starc was bowled by Jadeja for 15 in the first over after lunch, and Smith followed in strange fashion.
Facing the deep, he tried to drive it dancing down the wicket but was caught on the inside edge and the ball bounced off his pads and dripped onto his leg stump.
Nathan Ryan (13) dropped lbw to Bumrah for the last wicket and finished with 4-99.
The five-match series was settled 1-1 with India winning by 295 runs in Perth and losing by 10 wickets in Adelaide. The third Test in Brisbane was a draw due to rain.
