India ended day 4 of the fourth Test in Brisbane as the happier of the two teams after enforcing a fightback courtesy the 123-run partnership between Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar. India were bowled out for 336 after starting the day on 62 for 2.
Australia in their second innings are 21 for no loss at stumps with their openers giving their team a watchful start. The host needs to win the Test match to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy with two days of play left. The Asian giants started the day on 62 for 2 with their senior players Ajinkya Rahane (37) and Cheteshwar Pujara (25) batting cautiously.
However, Australia broke through courtesy Josh Hazelwood first dismissing Pujara getting hin knicked outside off stump. Skipper Rahane could not resist a wide one from Mitchell Starc to be snapped up by Steve Smith. Both the senior players got starts but failed to nake it into three-figure scores. Rahane and Mayank Agarwal (38) took India over the 100-run mark before lunch.
Agarwal making a comeback to the playing XI added just 17 before his partnership with Rishabh Pant was broken by Hazelwood again. The right-hander hit a 102 meter six to Nathan Lyon before he was dismissed. Ajinkya Rahane & Co lost five wickets for 81 runs in a session and a half since Pujara was the first Indian wicket on the day.
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Washington Sundar-Shardul Thakur Helps India’s Cause At The Gabba
Shardul Thakur (67) joined Washington Sundar (62) with the Indians reeling at 186/6 after the fall of Pant for 23. The duo then added 123 off 217 to stage a memorable fightback and bringing the visitors back in the game in the process. Both the Indian batsmen frustrated the Australian bowlers with every run they scored in that partnership.
They made the Australian bowlers made a few errors and cashed in on every scoring opportunity. The partnership was finally broken with the Indian score at 309 by Pat Cummins who managed to get one through the defenses of Thakur. India added another 27 runs before the tail was clean up by the Australian bowlers.
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Josh Hazelwood was the pick of the bowlers taking five for 57. This was his second five-wicket haul of the Test series after Adelaide. Starc and Cummins took two each as Nathan Lyon was stuck at 397 Test wickets after he dismissed Rohit Sharma on Day 2.
In their second innings, Australia started watchfully as well as they scored 21 in six overs with David Warner unbeaten on 20, bringing up his highest score of the series. A 197 overs are expected to be bowled in the final two-day play at The Gabba if the weather does not interfere in the day’s proceedings.
Brief Scores
Australia 369 and 21 for 0 lead India 336 (Thakur 67, Sundar 62, Hazlewood 5-57) by 54 runs