Smith and Burns keep the match alive

Australia took the driver seat on the penultimate day of the fourth test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground after Steve Smith and Joe Burns took the Indian bowling apart in the final session. At stumps Australia were on 251/6 with Ryan Harris and Brad Haddin still at the crease. The overall lead over India is 348 runs and with 90 overs still to be played in the test match we can still hope for a result. And the credit goes to Smith and Burns. Smith scored a quick fire 71 off 70 balls and Burns scored 66 off just 39 balls to take Australia’s lead well past 300. Brad Haddin (31*) also looked good for the amount of time he had spent in the middle.

Earlier in the day India’s tailed wagged for a longer time than expected as the score went past the 450-run mark. India’s first innings came to an end on 475 when Umesh Yadav nicked one off Mitchell Starc to the keeper. India started the day with Virat Kohli batting on 140 and Wriddhiman Saha on 14. India lost Kohli very early in the morning when the third umpire had given him out although replays did not show clearly whether Rogers had taken the catch cleanly or not. Before that he had added only 7 runs to his overnight score. Saha scored a useful 35 before becoming the victim of Josh Hazlewood. Then Ashwin and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar set up a partnership of 65 runs to take India close to 450. Ashwin scored his 4^th test half century and in the process became the latest member of the 1000-run club in test cricket.

However at the end of the day it’s advantage Australia. But again if Australia set a target that can be chased down, India will surely go after it. At least what the Indian think tank has shown over the last three test matches, we can expect that from the Indians. Then Virat Kohli will once again be the focal point of the Indian innings. And to see the mystery getting unfurled we have to wait till the end of the day’s play. As of now, Australia are firm favourites. A possibility of a draw comes next the rank of probable result. India’s chances of winning it cannot be wiped away as well.

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About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.