India’s Virat Kohli walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, on December 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
The Indian batting lineup came a cropper once again in the fourth innings of the fourth Test against Australia, allowing the host to take a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar trophy series on December 30, 2024. Australia won by 184 runs as India was bowled out for 155, chasing the target of 340.
The young Yashaswi Jaiswal had resisted against the Australian bowlers, but the team lost all hope when he was the last specialist batsman to be dismissed after a fighting 84. His partnership with Rishabh Pant (30) had shown some signs of life for India, as the rest of the batting order folded with single-digit scores.
Pat Cummins and Scott Boland were the pick of the Aussie bowlers as they bagged three wickets each.
Jaiswal reached his half-century after the game restarted from the lunch break. Before the lunch break, Kohli departed as Mitchell Starc picked the catch after Kohli tried for a drive, leaving India 33 for three.
India also suffered big blows when both K.L. Rahul and Rohit Sharma got out in the same over, facing Pat Cummins’ ball.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah holds up the ball as he leaves the field after taking the five wickets during play on the last day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024
| Photo Credit:
AP
Earlier in the day, Australia set India a 340-run target after being bowled out for 234.
India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah (5/57) expectedly led the show with a five-wicket haul, aided well by Mohammed Siraj (3/70) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/33).
Bumrah had entered record books by completing his 200 wickets on Sunday.
Resuming on their overnight score of 228/9, Australia number 10 and 11, Nathan Lyon (41 off 55) and Scott Boland (15 not out off 74), added six runs in the morning session before Bumrah castled the former.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – December 30, 2024 07:26 am IST
