Here are the highlights of the 4th Test match between India and Australia held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26 to 30, 2024:
Match Summary
- Result: Australia won by 184 runs.
- Player of the Match: Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) for his stellar performance with the bat.
Day-Wise Highlights
Day 1: Australia Takes Control
- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
- Top Performers:
- Marnus Labuschagne: Scored a brilliant 145 runs off 210 balls.
- Steve Smith: Contributed 89 runs, building a solid partnership with Labuschagne.
- Indian bowlers struggled initially but managed late breakthroughs:
- Mohammed Siraj: Took 3 wickets for 78 runs.
- Ravindra Jadeja: Picked up 2 crucial wickets.
- Australia’s Score at Stumps: 356/6.
Day 2: Australia Declares; India Stumbles
- Australia declared their first innings at 421/8.
- Indian openers faltered against Australia’s pace attack:
- Pat Cummins: Took 3 quick wickets, reducing India to 85/4.
- Mitchell Starc: Picked up 2 wickets, adding to India’s woes.
- India’s Score at Stumps: 152/5, trailing by 269 runs.
Day 3: India Fights Back
- Rishabh Pant: Played a counter-attacking knock of 102 runs off 118 balls.
- Axar Patel: Supported with a gritty 58 runs, helping India reach 307 in their first innings.
- Australia started their second innings with a lead of 114 runs.
- Australia’s Score at Stumps: 176/3, extending their lead to 290 runs.
Day 4: Australia Sets a Huge Target
- David Warner: Scored a quickfire 87 runs, propelling Australia’s second innings total to 328/8 (declared).
- India was set a daunting target of 443 runs to win.
- Indian openers fell cheaply again:
- Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins dismantled India’s top order.
- India’s Score at Stumps: 112/6, with hopes of survival dwindling.
Day 5: Australia Clinches Victory
- Nathan Lyon: Spun a web around India’s lower order, taking 5 wickets.
- India All Out: For 258 runs, falling short by 184 runs.
- Shardul Thakur: Showed resistance with a valiant 44 runs, but it wasn’t enough.
Key Takeaways
- Australia’s Dominance: Excellent performances from both batsmen and bowlers ensured a comprehensive victory.
- India’s Struggles: Inconsistent batting in both innings proved costly.
- Turning Point: Labuschagne and Smith’s partnership on Day 1 set the tone for the match.
Series Standings
- Australia: Leads the series 2-1.
- Next Match: 5th Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, 2025.
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