MELBOURNE (Web Desk) – Australia took an incredible seven wickets after tea on day five to win the fourth test against India by 184 runs and take a 2-1 series lead into the final match in Sydney.
India were coasting on the back of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant’s partnership through the entire middle session but crumbled in front of a mammoth crowd of 74,362 to be all out for 155 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia captain Pat Cummins and fellow pacer Scott Boland finished with three wickets apiece, with spinner Nathan Lyon chipping in two on a dramatic final day which was tinged with controversy over the use of the Decision Review System (DRS).
“Fantastic way to finish the week. I think it’s been five days of fantastic cricket,” said Australia’s Mitchell Starc.
“There was always belief in the group. I think this has been a feature of this group for a number of years – this calmness and just go with the flow and adapt to what’s thrown at us.”
India were 112 for three when they resumed after lunch, with Jaiswal and Pant well set and tasked with batting out the game.
However, after showing unusual restraint to bat through the middle session, Pant reverted to type to be out for 30.
He swung hard at a delivery from part-time spinner Travis Head and the miscued pull ended up caught at long-on by a sprinting Mitchell Marsh.
The wicket ending an 88-run partnership and triggered a collapse.
Boland hit the deck with renewed vigour and had Ravindra Jadeja caught behind for two with a delivery that reared off the pitch and found an outside edge.
Steve Smith then lunged for a brilliant catch at slip to remove all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who nicked Nathan Lyon to be out for one.
Controversy erupted when Jaiswal pulled at a short Cummins ball, prompting a big appeal for caught-behind, and the Australia skipped reviewed immediately when it was turned down.
Replays showed a clear deviation high off the bat but no evidence of a nick on the “Ultra Edge” technology.
The TV umpire decided the deviation was enough, though, and instructed on-field umpire Joel Wilson to overturn his decision.
Jaiswal initially refused to leave the crease, prompting sections of the crowd to chant, “Cheater! Cheater!”
