Bumrah led the pack with four wickets, but Australia’s last-place lead increased to over 300 on the fourth day of the fourth Test.
Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah scored 4 wins and 56 losses, including 200 wickets, in a breathtaking performance against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the fourth day of the 4th Test. I got my grades.
Bumrah dominated Australia’s middle order on Sunday, removing Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey with ease, but the hosts were 228-9 at stumps with one day left before the tail could wag. reached. Australia finished the five-match series with one win and one loss, leading with 333 points.
Earlier, Australia lost four wickets for 11 runs in 22 deliveries and slumped from 80-2 to 91-6 in a dramatic collapse in the middle after lunch.
However, the home side bounced back thanks to a 57-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Pat Cummins (41).
India resumed on Sunday with 358 for 9 and were bowled out for 369 to the home team’s 474.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the top scorer with 114 points. The fourth Test was a maiden century for the 21-year-old. Cummins (3-89), Scott Borland (3-57) and spinner Nathan Ryan (3-96) each took three wickets.
Reddy said it was a special moment to have his family and friends, including his father Mutiala, watching him score his first Test century.
“It was a special century for me and my father,” Reddy said. “When I was nobody, the first person who believed in me was my father. He believed in me and quit his job for me.
“He sacrificed so much. I’m so grateful to have a father like him.”
On a pitch that kept moving laterally, Australia slowly took a lead of 53-2 with 25 overs by the second lunch. Opening pitchers Sam Kontas (8 years old) and Usman Khawaja (21 years old) were sent off before the interval.
Mohammed Siraj (3-66) caused the collapse by removing first innings century maker Steve Smith, who was 13 runs behind at 80-3.
In the next over, Bumrah made two breakthroughs. The 31-year-old took his 200th wicket by removing one head caught at forward square leg, before Marsh was caught behind four balls for a duck.
Bumrah, who has 44 Test caps, bowled Carey (2) in the next over to take his fourth wicket of the innings as Australia were reeling at 91-6.
Labuschagne described Bumrah’s bowling as “relentless”, as he took 29 wickets in the series at an average of 13.24.
“He just bowls relentlessly long. He attacks the stumps. He is difficult to maneuver,” Labuschagne said. “He was hot. He got three wickets in two overs. He has done very well in this series.”
Yasavi Jaiswal missed three catches in the field, including dropping Labuskanu at gully for 46 and Cummins for a stupid point on 21.
Australia regained their composure and extended their lead to over 250 runs before Siraj trapped Labuschagne lbw for 148-7. Mitchell Starc (5) was run out shortly after the tee at 156-8.
Cummins was caught at slip after 17 runs, but India fumbled their fourth chance when Siraj sank a catch-and-bowl chance while Lyon were leading by five runs.
Lyon (41 not out) and Boland (10 not out) added to India’s frustration with an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the final wicket. Bumrah had Lyon caught at slip on 35 in the final over of the day, but it was a no-ball.
The highest successful run chase in a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 2000 is Australia’s 231-2 against England in 2013-14.
Reddy said it was important to have “one or two good partnerships” to give India a chance of winning.
“You could tell by the fourth day that the pitch was a little bit better,” Reddy said. “We don’t need to put any more pressure on (ourselves) saying this is what the pitch is like or this is what it’s like.”
The five games in a row are evenly matched with one win and one loss. The fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series is scheduled to begin on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
