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Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 4: It's advantage Australia after Burns' rapid-fire fifty

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DC Correspondent
9 Jan 2015 12:03 PM IST
Australia lead by 348 despite Ashwin's solid effort with the ball
Ind vs Aus 4th Test Day 4: Its advantage Australia after Burns rapid-fire fifty
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Joe Burns' 66-run knock on day four of the Sydney Test against India has put Australia in a strong position. Photo: AP

Sydney: Australia were 251 for six with an overall lead of 348 runs at the close on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test against India in Sydney on Friday. Brad Haddin was not out 31 and an overnight declaration was likely

Here is how the action unfolded.

Australia's quicks removed Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha before lunch on the fourth day of Sydney Test but the Indian tail frustrated the hosts with solid batting display and helped India to score 475.

The Saha-Ashwin pair continued to bat on as India continued to reduce the deficit. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had two ordinary days with ball in hand, made sure that he did not meet the same fate with bat in hand.

Before gettintg out, the Indian medium pacer had scored 30 and was involved in a 65-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin. There were some doubts about whether he was out or not, the umpires then opted to refer the decision to third umpire who ruled it in favour of the hosts.

Ravichandran Ashwin though did not let that hamper his batting. The off-spinner, who although a bowler, is a delight to watch when he is batting, scored a fifty to take India past 450-run mark before falling to Mitchell Starc.

Mohammad Shami then had some fun hitting Nathan Lyon for 14 in an over. But he and the last man Umesh Yadav could not stretch Indian innings further as Haddin took a skier to end Yadav's stay and Indian innings for 475.

Australian inning was off to a terrible start as Ashwin struck in his first over to dismiss David Warner. The ball bounced and caught Warner off-guard. Murali Vijay, who was standing in the slips, made no mistake and took an easy catch to give India their first breakthrough.

India could have easily got their second wicket. But wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha made an absolute mess of a run-out opportunity. Watson had tried to grab a risky single, but Kohli latched onto the ball to keep Watson away from single. Had Saha judged the bounce of the throw early, Watson would have been back in the dressing room.

But India did not have to wait for too long for Watson's wicket as the Australian all-rounder chopped one onto his stumps shortly after tea-break. Ashwin tossed that delivery and pushed Watson on the backfoot. Australia's number three tried to play a cut which eventually led to his fall.

Chris Rogers and man in golden form, Steve Smith then upped the scoring rate as the duo scored freely and took Australia's lead past 200-run mark without much trouble. Chris Rogers notched up another fifty. But like many times in the past, he could not go on to reach three-figure mark and got out off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's bowling.

Shaun Marsh who replaced Rogers in the middle, could not last long either as Ashwin dismissed him after the left-hander for 1.

Joe Burns then joined Steve Smith in the middle. The duo added 35 runs before Smith was trapped before wickets by Shami. From there on, it was all Burns' show as the right-hander smashes 66 runs off 39 balls. Playing only his second Test, Burns hit 3 sixes and 8 fours in his quickfire knock.

Although he got out in his attempt to add runs to Australia's account, he and Haddin swelled Australia's lead to 348 before umpires called for stumps on day four.

Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin, on 33, and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, on three, were at the crease at the lunch break looking to further eat into Australia's imposing tally of 572-7 declared.

India skipper Kohli added just five runs to his overnight score in 19 minutes before he clipped a Ryan Harris delivery to Chris Rogers at midwicket, shaking his head in disappointment at his dismissal for 145.

His fourth century of the series helped bring his tally over the four tests to 646 runs, the second highest by an Indian batsman in an overseas series after the 774 Sunil Gavaskar accumulated in West Indies in 1971.

Saha survived another 50 minutes of penetrating Australian fast bowling in bright sunshine at the Sydney Cricket Ground before he too departed attempting to pull a short Josh Hazlewood delivery.

Caught in two minds over whether to play the shot or leave it, he managed only a top edge to Steve Smith in the cordon with the Australia skipper taking a comfortable catch.

It was a welcome boost for Smith, who dropped Kohli and opener Lokesh Dravid on Thursday before both went on to make centuries.

Kumar survived a scare before he got a run on the board when he gave a bat-pad chance off spinner Nathan Lyon but close fielder Joe Burns failed to gather the ball.

Australia, 2-0 up in the series after victories in Adelaide and Brisbane, will be looking to mop up the Indian tail quickly after lunch and build a competitive lead to try to force a result on Saturday.

( Source : reuters/afp/dc )
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