Melbourne, Dec 29: Pat Cummins displayed great character and temperament as he notched up a defiant fifty on day four to help Australia survive for one more day in the Melbourne Test here on Saturday (December 29).
Cummins remained unbeaten on 61 (103 balls) with Nathan Lyon 6*(38 deliveries) as Australia ended for 258/8 in 85 overs to ensure India will have to come to bowl them out on day five. The hosts are still 141 short of their target of 399 while India still need two more wickets to win this game. The way hosts' lower-order put up a defiant show with the bat against a quality Indian bowling line-up at a deteriorating track.
Ravindra Jadeja (3/82), Jasprit Bumrah (2/53), Mohammed Shami (2/72) bowled well but failed to get the entire Australian side out in their second innings despite bowling 85 overs. They seemed tired in the last one hour, as a result, the Australian lower-order batsmen scored easily. They would now hope to wrap up the Aussie innings as quickly as possible on the final day.
Earlier in the day, India declared their second innings for 106/8 to set a target of 399 for Australia to chase. Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 33 as Cummins returned with the career-best figures of 6/27 in the second innings to trouble Indians.
Mayank Agarwal, the other overnight batsman, was dismissed for 42 as India started the innings from 54/5 on a penultimate day and went on adding 52 runs to their overnight total. Mayank played some fine strokes off Nathan Lyon while Rishabh Pant (33) played his trademark T20 style game as India added 52 runs to their overnight total.
Earlier on Day 3, Jasprit Bumrah shined with a superb six-wicket haul as India strengthened their grip on the third Test, despite Pat Cummins's fiery spell in the second innings gave Australia a glimmer of hope on the third day on Friday (December 28). Bumrah finished with a career-best haul of 6-33 to restrict Australia for 151 in a dominant display of bowling.
As the match happened on Day 4:
That's stumps! Australia live to fight another. Pat Cummins' determined innings has denied India the win on Day 4. Australia - 258/8, need 141 runs to win. India need two wickets to win this one. Aussies claim the final session of day four.
Pat Cummins notches up his second Test fifty with a boundary and the crowd applauds his defiant knock. Clearly, he showed more maturity than the rest of the Australian batters.
India have taken the second new ball. Bumrah starts!
80 overs have been bowled, second new ball is available. Will India take it?
The match has been extended for an extra half hour. Jadeja bowls from around the stumps to Cummins. Cummins-Lyon have held the fort nicely. They are determined to drag this game to the fifth day.
Pat Cummins is batting in 30s and he's trying to ensure the game sees the light of the fifth day - which has a heavy rain forecast.
Wicket! Shami cleans up Mitchell Starc as the left-hander was looking to hit him over long off. Australia - 215/8. India two short of a victory, can they end this game today itself?
Wicket! Jadeja is brought into the attack and he ends the innings of Australian captain Tim Paine. Bottom edge from Paine and Pant takes a sharp low catch to end his innings for 26.
Australia are 166/6 after 57 overs and Kohli introduces Hanuma Vihari into the attack.
The tail has been exposed! Can India wrap the Australian innings today itself?
Wicket! Travis Head (34) chops on to the stumps and Ishant Sharma gets the wicket India were looking for. Head couldn't believe his luck as he makes his descent. Australia - 157/6.
Australia - 153/5 after 47 overs.
First eight-wicket haul for Bumrah in Tests. Can he convert it into a 10-for?
Jasprit Bumrah - his first eight-wicket haul in a Test match!#AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 29, 2018
Some record for Jadeja!
Most wickets by a left arm bowler after 40 Tests
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 29, 2018
189 - Ravindra Jadeja
175 - Mitchell Johnson
170 - Mitchell Starc
165 - Alan Davidson
160 - Bill Johnston#AusvInd#AusvsInd
Travis Head and captain Tim Paine continue Australia's innings after tea break. They must be looking to put up some resistance as India need 5 more wickets.
It's tea time! Australia are 138/5 in 42 overs. India have dominated this session as they picked up 3 important wickets.
We'll learn a new word today i.e. 'temporary captain'.. The only thing he can do is talking..talking... C'mmon Jaddu' - Tim Paine is out into the middle and it's Rishabh Pant's chance to return the favour from behind the stumps. The broadcasters turned the stump mic on the moment Paine went into the middle and the banter started almost immediately.
It was Rishabh Pant's turn for some fun on the stump mic today... #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RS8I6kI55f
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2018
Wicket! Mitchell Marsh departs for 10 as tried to hit Ravindra Jadeja over mid-wicket for a maximum. Kohli takes a simple catch at short mid-wicket. Australia - 135/5 after 39.1 overs.
Dropped! Rishabh Pant fails to take a low catch behind the stumps and Travis Head gets a breather at 25. Jadeja isn't happy with the stumper.
Wicket! Jasprit Bumrah traps set Shaun Marsh for 44. He went upstairs to review it but the decision stayed as it turned out to be umpire's call, Australia keep their DRS but lose their wicket. Aus - 114/4.
Out! It's umpire's call and Shaun Marsh has got to go. Out for 44. Bumrah has a second.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 29, 2018
4-114https://t.co/1X1BKuj3M6 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9ZEb8haQCX
51-run partnership between Shaun Marsh (44*) and Travis Head (17*).
Shaun Marsh crashes a full ball from Jadeja away to the cover boundary - as he has done throughout his career. When spinners have pitched the ball full to him, Marsh averages 118. For all his faults, he's clinical at dismissing the bad ball. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 29, 2018
Dangerous series?
55 deliveries in this series have resulted in batsmen being hit on the glove or the helmet. Only one series in the CricViz database (2006-present) has seen more, that series being last year's Ashes. #AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 29, 2018
Shami has bowled a spell of six straight overs. Kohli hasn't operated his pacers for such a long spell in this match.
Harsha likes Shami's ball to dismiss Khawaja and also likes Australia's intent in the second innings.
The more you see the Khawaja dismissal, the more you realise what a good ball that was from Shami. But in spite of losing three, Australia are looking more positive
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2018
Travis Head is the new batsman on the crease. He along with Shaun Marsh are again looking to counter-attack by scoring runs quickly against Shami and Jadeja.
Wicket! Usman Khawaja's counter-attacking innings comes to an end as Shami traps the left hander in front. Khawaja went upstairs but to no avail, he has to depart for 33. Australia 63/3.
Out! The review can't save him. Taking out middle and off! Khawaja gone for 33.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 29, 2018
📺 Watch LIVE on Fox Cricket & 📰 join our match centre: https://t.co/1X1BKu1snw #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/zEMLkw9WDd
Australia 61/2 after 18 overs, need 338 more runs to win. Khawaja is playing with an attacking intent while Shaun Marsh looks defensive.
Ouch!! Mayank Agarwal is hit by the ball in his neck while fielding at forward short-leg. He's been taken off the field and KL Rahul replaces him on the field. Ravindra Jadeja bowls the second over post lunch.
Teams are back on the field for the second session. Australia are still 355 runs behind and India need 8 more wickets to win this game. A lot will depend on Khawaja and Marsh - Australia's most experienced batters in the side.
It's lunch time! Australia are 44/2 after 14 overs. Khawaja 26* and Shaun Marsh (2*) are present at the crease and they'll continue innings after the 40-minute break. 96 runs have been scored and 5 wickets have fallen in this session.