India have giant steps towards securing a 1-0 series lead. The Indian pace attack continued to impress and have put the team on course for a big win. Travis Head has counter-attacked with a solid half-century but the Jasprit Bumrah-led side are just five wickets away from a historic win.
After setting a target of 534, India rattled Australia early with three wickets late on day three. Bumrah got rid of Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne while Mohammed Siraj dismissed the skipper Pat Cummins who walked out as nightwatchman.
Siraj started day four with Usman Khawaja’s wicket. The left-handed Australian opener top-edged a delivery that kicked up from a length. Siraj got the scalp on his third delivery of the day.
Steve Smith and Travis Head were in the firing line. The trio of Bumrah, Siraj and Harshit Rana posed constant questions. However, Smith and Head survived despite being hit on the body and being beaten on the outside edge a few times. There was an appeal for LBW which went Head’s way as it was umpire’s call on review.
The attacking left-hander consistently found ways to get boundaries and found gaps regularly. Every time he got a bit of width and the bowlers went slightly full, Head was ready to pounce on it. Washington Sundar was called in for a short spell and he bowled four overs without much success.
Siraj gets Smith before lunch
Bumrah then brought back Siraj who troubled Smith and eventually got his man caught behind with a beauty. The premier Australia batter was out for 17 as India broke through once again. The 61-run stand was broken. Siraj had his third wicket of the innings.
Mitchell Marsh walked in but Bumrah troubled him right from the onset. The Indian skipper hit the bat hard, got extra bounce and even beat the Aussie all-rounder on the outside edge. But he managed to play safely through to lunch.
Meanwhile, Head raced to fifty which came off just 63 balls. He remained unbeaten on 63 at the end of the first session on day four.
Australia are still in trouble at 104/5. They will need to bat out of their skins to make a match out of this. India are only five wickets away from becoming the first team to beat Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
