Watch: Steve Smith pulls off another blinder to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah for a duck

Steve Smith took a stunning catch during the end of Day 5 of the Melbourne Test to have India nine down with the wicket of Jasprit Bumrah. It was Smith's second excellent catch in the session after he had also picked up one off Nathan Lyon's bowling earlier.

Fast bowler Scott Boland went wide of the crease and bowled a length ball outside off which reversed away just a bit. Bumrah pressed forward to defend the ball but it hit him a little high on the bat and the outside edge went low towards Steve Smith at first slip.

Smith dived forward and completed an excellent catch just inches away from the turf. The umpires sent it upstairs but the catch turned out to be absolutely clean. The dismissal dented India further as they were just one wicket away from losing the match.

Watch: 'Cheater' chants erupt at MCG after controversial dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal

Watch: Steve Smith pulls off a blinder to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah

SCOTT BOLAND AT THE MCG!

India NINE down #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mQOrCTqf81

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 30, 2024

Jasprit Bumrah is capable of batting but was dismissed without scoring in this game. The 31-year-old has decent batting capabilities and his wicket sunk India further.

The wicket brought Australia to the brink of a famous win. Nathan Lyon claimed the last wicket with the wicket of Mohammed Siraj for a duck as India were bowled out for 155 in their second innings.

Excellent match for Steve Smith

Earlier, Steve Smith had taken another excellent catch to get the big wicket of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Nathan Lyon flighted a ball outside off stump which Reddy tried to defend off the front foot.

However, he got an outside edge to Smith's left at first slip. Steve Smith went low to his left and grabbed the catch cleanly to provide his team a vital breakthrough.

Smith had a good match overall as he scored 140 runs in the first innings and also took three catches. His knock of 140 off 197 balls set up the game nicely for Australia and allowed them to post a massive first innings total on the board.

Australia take lead in the series

Meanwhile, India lost seven wickets in the final session of the match to lose the match shockingly in the end. At tea, the match seemed to go for a draw with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant looking set at the crease.

Jaiswal and Pant batted exceedingly well in the second sessiona as India didn't lose a single wicket in the session. But Pant tried to play a release shot off Travis Head's half-tracker and perished to long-on.

It was a huge moment in the game as it brought Australia back into the match. The hosts made full use of it and picked up wickets in clusters dent India's hopes further.

With this win, Australia now lead the Test series 2-1 and inch closer to reach the WTC final. Meanwhile, the road has become tougher for India and they need to win the fifth Test in Sydney at any cost to keep their hopes alive.