GUWAHATI, Dec 29: A 55-run unbeaten partnership for the 10th wicket between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland helped Australia reach 228/9 at Stumps on Day 4 of the 4th Test at Melbourne and extend their lead to a commanding 333.
After India were dismissed for 369 runs in their first innings — adding just 11 runs to their overnight score of 358/9 — some immaculate bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj who picked up four and three wickets respectively had reduced the hosts to 91 for 6 at one stage.
But a 47-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne (70) and skipper Pat Cummins (41) for the seventh wicket and the 55-run unbeaten stand for the 10th wicket between Lyon (41) and Boland (10) tilted the match in favour of the hosts with the final day’s play left tomorrow.
Earlier in the morning, overnight centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy was the last wicket to fall for India after he was dismissed by Lyon for 114 runs.
The five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently tied 1-1. India had won the first test at Perth, registering their biggest test victory over Australia in Australia by defeating the hosts by 295 runs.
Rohit’s men, however, lost the second Test at Adelaide as Australia won by 10 wickets.
The rain-truncated third test at the Gabba in Brisbane had ended in a draw.
Brief Scores
Australia – 474 all out and 228/9
India – 369 all out
