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India vs Australia, highlights, 3rd Test day 4: Cummins's 2nd fifty takes match to final day

Pat Cummins' Magnificent Fifty, To Go With His Haul Of 6/27 Helped Australia Drag The Match Into The Final Day Against India In Melbourne. Get Highlights Of Day 4 Of Boxing Day Test Here.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Siddharth Vishwanathan | Updated on: 29 Dec 2018, 01:03:47 PM
Pat Cummins' took 6/27 and frustrated India with a gritty fifty as Australia took the Boxing Day Test to the final day. (Image credit: Twitter)

New Delhi:

Jasprit Bumrah’s career-best haul of 6/33 gave India a massive 292-run lead but India were jolted by a sensational spell of bowling from Pat Cummins. On day 3, he accounted for Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in a sensational spell of bowling. On day 4, his wonderful exhibition continued as he picked up Mayank Agarwal for 42 and accounted for Ravindra Jadeja to pick up his career-best haul of 6/27. Virat Kohli declared for the second time in the match and India have set Australia a target of 399. The Australian top order floundered yet again despite putting up a much better show as compared to the first innings. However, the Australian tail stung India yet again as they frustrated the victory push for Virat Kohli's side. Having hurt India with the ball, Cummins hit his second fifty as he shared partnerships with Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to help Australia drag the match into the final day where rain is forecast.  (SCORECARD)

That is stumps on day four and the match will be played on the final day now. Cummins' brilliant fifty has ensured Australia drag the fight to the final day of the Boxing Day Test. There is some rain forecast tomorrow but nothing to worry the Indian fans too much. India need two wickets while Australia need a further 141 runs. 

Only two overs remain in the day and just 12 minutes for the extra half an hour to end. It has been a gritty effort from Cummins and Lyon. If they can take the game to the fifth day, they will get a psychological advantage. 

Cummins, what a player he has been. Registers his second fifty and what a time to do it. He is frustrating India and ensure Australia fight for another day. Although, one feels that the outcome of the result is well known.

The second new ball has been taken. India will be banking on the remaining five overs to take the last two wickets. One could yield two in quick time. 

India have taken the extra half and hour as they look to take the remaining two wickets quickly. It is getting overcast in Melbourne at this moment.

WICKET! Mohammed Shami gets another wicket and India close in. Shami slants in a full ball on off stump and Starc goes for the drive, misses it and the off stump is knocked back. India two away from a win.

Cummins brings up the 200 in style by launching Ravindra Jadeja over long off for a big six and he carves Mohammed Shami to the deep backward point fence. Australia need less than 200. But, India need three wickets.

Another wicket for Jadeja and India are just three away from the win. Flighted delivery and it grips the surface, Paine goes for the cut but gets an outside edge that is taken by Pant. India three away from a famous win.

Cummins and Paine are surviving a pretty hostile spell from the Indian bowlers. However, the only consolation for them is that they have gotten past their first innings score and played out more overs.

WICKET! It is now almost over bar the shouting. Ishant gets the last recognised batsman and India are now into the tail. Good length ball outside off from round the wicket from Ishant Sharma, Head plays away from the body as he goes for the drive, gets an inside edge that clips leg stump. India four wickets away from a win.

Paine starts well with two boundaries off Shami. Although the boundaries were not proper, Australia will take the runs as they come. 

That is tea on day 4. Australia need 261 runs more for an unlikely win. India need five wickets more for a historic win. 

WICKET! Tame dismissal and Mitchell Marsh falls before the tea break. Flighted delivery and Marsh chips it straight to the fielder at cover where Ajinkya Rahane makes no mistake. India closing in on a famous win.

Travis Head is batting confidently but India continue to build the pressure. One feels with Bumrah in such great form, the tail might not be able to wag on this wicket. 

Bumrah, Bumrah, Bumrah! What a bowler. His Test continues to get better. Good length ball angled in on middle and leg stump, it scoots through and Marsh tries to work it to the leg side but gets hit on the pad, umpire Marais Erasmus gives it out. Marsh reviews and replays show it is clipping leg stump. Marsh falls for 44 and Australia in deep trouble. 

Shaun Marsh presents the full face of the bat and punchily drives Shami to the long off fence. Travis Head, on the other hand, is looking in good touch against Jadeja but India have brought back Jasprit Bumrah.

WICKET! Brilliant stuff from Shami and India get the one batsman who had the potential to play a long knock. Shami angles the delivery in on middle stump and gets it straighten, Khawaja plays down the wrong line and is trapped on the pad. Umpire Marais Erasmus gives it out and the batsman reviews. No luck as the ball is hitting off stump. 

Khawaja and Marsh are really making confident progress. Khawaja, in particular, has looked in great touch.

A loose start for Mohammed Shami in the second session as Marsh laces a cover drive to the deep extra cover fence after conceding a boundary first ball of the over. Khawaja goes for the sweep and hits Mayank Agarwal on the neck at short leg but he is ok.

That will be lunch on day 4. Australia are grimly hanging on. India need eight good balls for eight wickets. The hosts will be hoping that the rain arrives. Engrossing second session in prospect.

WICKET! It was coming. Told you. Just a matter of time. Harris prods forward to a flatter delivery and stabs at the delivery hard, the inside edge is taken and the sharp catch is taken by Mayank Agarwal at short leg. India erupt and Australia sink further.

Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja are looking in good touch with a couple of boundaries. However, one feels that India just need to bide their time on a wicket that has now become a minefield. 

Ravindra Jadeja appeals for a bat-pad catch and the umpire does not give it. Kohli opts for the review after consultation but replays show that the bat is nowhere near the ball. India have lost a review. 

Sensational. There is nothing Bumrah can do wrong now. He gets this back of a length ball to climb up sharply outside off, Finch looks to steer it down to third man but the healthy edge is taken by Virat Kohli at second slip.

Ishant Sharma opens the bowling and Kohli has set an attacking field. Australia make a confident start by hitting six runs in the first over. 

Rishabh Pant falls to Josh Hazlewood and Kohli immediately signals for the declaration. The target for Australia will be 399. One feels the weather factor may have influenced the decision but considering the confidence of the current Australian side, India will be gunning for victory by today.

Ravindra Jadeja brings up the 100 in style for India as he pummels a pull shot from Cummins to the deep midwicket fence. However, he gets his revenge next ball as the bouncer is bang on and Jadeja can fend it off only to the slips. The pacer gets his sixth wicket.

For all those wondering how the weather is, it is overcast at the moment. Showers are predicted later in the day but so far, all good. India's lead might go past 400 and they might declare immediately.

A warm welcome to day 4 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India from Melbourne. Mayank Agarwal struck two sixes off Nathan Lyon to near his fifty but he was cleaned up by a superb delivery from Pat Cummins, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Australia. India are 83/6 and they are nearing a lead of 400

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First Published : 28 Dec 2018, 05:38:04 PM

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