Australia secured a convincing victory over India in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, winning by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This result gives Australia a 2-1 lead in the series.
Match Summary
Australia’s Innings: Australia batted first, scoring 474 runs in their first innings. In their second innings, they posted 228 runs, setting India a target of 340 runs to win.
India’s Response: India managed to score 369 runs in their first innings and struggled in their second, collapsing to 155 all out on Day 5.
The match concluded with India unable to chase down the target, marking a disappointing end to their efforts in Melbourne. The series continues with Australia now holding the upper hand going into the final Test.
Key Factors in Australia’s Victory
Strong First Innings:
Australia set a solid foundation by scoring 474 runs in their first innings, which included significant contributions from Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, both of whom scored crucial runs,
Effective Bowling:
In response, India was bowled out for 369 runs, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge with his exceptional bowling performance, taking four wickets. However, Australia’s bowlers, particularly Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, also performed well, taking three wickets each and restricting India’s scoring,
Resilience from Lower Order: Dominating Final Day:
On Day 5, Australia’s bowlers ripped through India’s batting lineup, taking seven wickets in the final session to dismiss India for just 155 runs in their second innings. This decisive bowling performance highlighted Australia’s dominance throughout the match
During their second innings, Australia faced a middle-order collapse where they were reduced to 91 for 6. However, a vital partnership of 57 runs between Marnus Labuschagne and captain Pat Cummins helped stabilize the innings and extend their lead significantly. The lower-order batsmen also contributed important run,
Strategic Gameplay:
Australia’s ability to bounce back after losing early wickets in their second innings demonstrated their resilience and strategic gameplay. They capitalized on the pressure created by Bumrah’s earlier breakthroughs but managed to recover effectively when it mattered mosts, with Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland adding a crucial last-wicket partnership of 55 runs that further bolstered Australia’s position.
Photo Credit: BCCI
