At the exciting end of the fourth Test in Melbourne, Australia defeated India by 184 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With a target of 340 in 92 overs, India batted cautiously the whole innings, showing little desire to win.
In the last hour, however, India was bowled out for 155 as Australia’s outstanding bowling display in the evening session claimed the final seven wickets for only 34 runs.
After the rest of the top order failed and the tourists fell to 33-3, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal appeared intent on securing a hard-fought draw for India. However, with 21 overs left, he was caught behind off Pat Cummins for 84 off 208 balls.
They were the only hitters to reach double digits, but Jaiswal had previously fought through a wicketless afternoon session with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who scored 30 off 104 balls.
The collapse began when Pant left after tea because he had run out of patience and slogged Travis Head to long-on for yet another unnecessary dismissal.
Australia were all out for 234 after Cummins and Scott Boland concluded with three wickets apiece and spinner Nathan Lyon got two following his batting exploits. Lyon fell for 41 in the day’s second over.
Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled him, had another brilliant effort, finishing with 5-57.
A victory would guarantee Australia’s spot in the World Test Championship final when the series comes to an end in Sydney on January 2.
Cummins stars in classic win
With 373,691 spectators over the course of the five days at the MCG, the attendance for a Test match in Australia set a record. Captain Cummins sealed the victory with yet another masterclass with the ball and his tactics.
India’s skipper Rohit Sharma and opener Jaiswal got off to a slow start, setting the tone for the team’s strategy as they struggled to 25-0 after 16 overs with only 12 scoring strokes in the first ninety balls.
The door was opened for Australia, though, by Cummins’ double-wicket maiden in the 17th over, as KL Rahul was caught at slip for a duck and Rohit edged to gully for 19.
With India well behind, Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli for five on the eve of lunch after three more maidens.
Following the break, however, they encountered opposition from Pant and Jaiswal, who both adjusted by reducing their customary combative style.
Their cautious 88-wicket fourth-wicket stand appeared to be rescuing the match until Cummins’ brilliant throw to part-time spinner Head ended the match.
Pant was unable to contain his aggression and hit a short delivery to Mitchell Marsh on the boundary, setting Australia on fire and allowing their seamers to assault a tense middle-to-lower order.
It seemed as though India’s dreams had left him when Cummins delivered the decisive blow with Jaiswal edging a well-directed bouncer to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, first-innings centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy edging Lyon to slip, and Ravindra Jadeja was caught behind off Boland for two.
Jaiswal stands alone amid India collapse
Senior members of India’s top order, including captain Rohit, are under increasing pressure following yet another subpar Test in which he scored just 12 runs in two innings.
Kohli appeared to be undecided on how to approach the innings as he flailed outside his off stump and was also out to a wayward shot.
After hitting 82 in the first inning, however, Jaiswal remained resolute and showed that he could change tactics when needed with another hard hit.
In his 208-ball stay, the 23-year-old only managed eight fours and showed excellent maturity by assisting Pant in controlling his own offensive tendencies.
As he passed umpire Joel Wilson, who had originally declared him not out, he was clearly upset over his ejection.
Third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat suggested that Wilson’s ruling be overturned after Australia requested a review due to a deflection he saw on the slow-motion replay, even though the ultra-edge technology did not show a spike.
Following Jaiswal’s exit, Washington Sundar put up more tenacious resistance with his undefeated five from 45 balls, but the lower order was completely destroyed, with the final three wickets falling in four overs.
The second new ball was just an over away for Australia, but it was unnecessary as Boland dismissed both Akash Deep and Bumrah before Lyon took the last wicket with Mohammed Siraj pinned leg before wicket for a duck.
Although they no longer control their destiny, India still has a chance to go to the World Test Championship final. They have to win in Sydney and hope that Sri Lanka defeats Australia in the series.that begins in late January.
