Australia vs India 2018: 1st Test, Day 4 - Review

Team India bowlers did a splendid job as put India on the verge of the victory in the opening Test at Adelaide after setting a steep target of 323 runs at the end of day four.

Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets each to have the hosts on the backfoot. The off-spinner was the first to struck dismissing Aaron Finch while Shami wrecked good pace from the other end. Shaun Marsh has looked solid out there but needs a partner to combat this strong Indian bowling line-up. Harris and both Handscomb promised a lot but fell to loose shots while Khawaja’s has to be the most atrocious shot of those dismissals.

India’s bowlers have been relentless, hardly giving anything away and that target looks a country mile away at this stage. Not an unplayable pitch but run-scoring has been difficult and there is a turn on offer.

Previously, in the day, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scored fifties to extend India’s advantage. However, it came down sharply with the second session collapse.

Both the overnight batsmen, Pujara and Rahane, put on an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket to start the day well for India. After a mostly luckless session, Lyon snapped the wickets of Pujara for 71 and Rohit Sharma (1) in quick succession, but India, by then, have attained a comfortable position.

The visitors went into the break with an overall lead of 275 and threatening to bat Australia out of the game. Post the break, Rishabh Pant came all guns blazing against Lyon hitting him for three boundaries and a six in consecutive balls. However, his cameo didn’t last long, having him at deep cover.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma succumbed to short-pitched deliveries from Mitchell Starc while Rahane was Lyon’s fifth victim. The quick wrap-up of the innings left Australia with a glimmer of hope, despite the daunting target ahead of them.

In addition to, India went to lunch with Aaron Finch back to the hut in the last over before tea.

With Australia reeling at 104 for four, they have an uphill task at hand to save themselves going 1-0 down in the Test series. While India, on the other hand, will have to pick six wickets to start the Border-Gavaskar Test series on a high.