A remorseless Australia pace attack tore through India’s top order and left the visitors in a precarious position on day three of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The dominance came after Steve Smith scored his 34th Test century to propel Australia to a formidable first-innings total.
At the end of play on Day 2, India reached 164 for 5, still trailing by 310 runs after Australia declared at 474 shortly after lunch. Smith’s innings of 140 was quite stylish as he hit 13 boundaries and three sixes, illustrating his control and aggression.
Rishabh Pant was not out on six, while Ravindra Jadeja added four runs as India’s momentum was shattered with three quick wickets in the final half-hour after they had been well-placed at 153 for 2. Scott Boland and Pat Cummins each claimed two wickets further tightening Australia’s grip on the match.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma finally came back as the opener after batting at number six in the last two Tests. And then his nightmare with an unlucky three as he miscued a pull off Cummins, which was gobbled up easily by Boland at mid-on. In-form KL Rahul saw his stumps disturbed while he was going well till 24 off the last ball before tea, as Cummins cut short his sojourn in the middle.
Despite the setbacks, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal held firm, showcasing his talent with a well-crafted innings of 82. Jaiswal, who scored 161 in the first Test at Perth, appeared on track for another century but fell victim to a comical mix-up with Virat Kohli. After calling for a quick single off Boland, Kohli’s indecision left Jaiswal stranded, ending their dangerous 102-run partnership.
Kohli, who had been fined 20 percent of his match fee for a shoulder charge on Australian debutant Sam Konstas, was caught behind by Alex Carey off Boland for 36 and nightwatchman Akash Deep was out without score soon after.
Resuming at 311 for 6, Australia added another 163 runs in quick time. Smith, on the other hand, oozed confidence as he just kept piling on. He even showed his intent to go big with a six off Jasprit Bumrah. The century came up with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy, a welcome return to form after the 101 in the last Test.
Off his record, both Smith and Cummins opened their bats, the latter falling caught for 49 as a good 112-run partnership was broken. Jadeja then bowled Mitchell Starc for 15 in the first over after lunch and Smith’s innings ended in bizarre fashion, bowled off his pads while trying to drive Deep.
Nathan Lyon was the last wicket to fall, lbw to Bumrah, who finished with fine figures of 4 for 99. The five-match series is now level at 1-1 after India’s convincing 295-run win in Perth, a crushing 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide and a rain-affected draw in Brisbane.
