India have 8 wickets in hand and still require 309 runs on the last day of the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket ground to pull off a miracle win? Can they do it?
None of the two teams have managed to score 400+ runs in any of the Tests so far. India, in the history of cricket, have gone past the 400-run mark only once in their fourth innings while playing in Australia and that came 42 years ago for a losing cause at Adelaide. The highest ever total India chased to win a Test match in the fourth innings was 233/6 in Adelaide back in 2003 where Rahul Dravid had scored that epic 233.
At the end of play, India were 98/2 with captain Ajinkya Rahane (4*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (9*) at the crease. It is highly likely that the match will yield a definite result tomorrow.
Starting the day at 103/2, Australia hardly broke a sweat to pile pressure on the Indian bowlers. Marnus Labuschagne (73), Steve Smith (81), Cameron Green (84) and Tim Paine (39*) looked in exquisite form and took Australia to a commanding 312-6 before declaring.
BBL sixes - 0
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021
Test sixes - 4
Cameron Green went large after bringing up his fifty and he caught up with https://t.co/7zqZfe74xF after play. #AUSvIND | @alintaenergy pic.twitter.com/A6BexDaoPo
Chasing, 407, India started well yet again with Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma developing some good chemistry. Even though there were a few moments of hiccups, the duo went on to put a 71-run stand for the opening partnership.
Unorthodox, but effective!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/KwwZDwbdzO pic.twitter.com/YKZwZ3ZNGu
Josh Hazlewood handed Australia the first breakthrough when Gill (31) nicked one to Paine. Hazlewood pitched it on the off that straightened a bit before kissing the bat. Even though Gill immediately went for the review, there was clear deviation and Hotspot suggested the same.
#AUSvIND https://t.co/vgPqyR437c pic.twitter.com/AD1IbxQiNd
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021
Rohit (52), despite a few anxious moments in the middle, looked in good touch, often stepping out to take on Nathan Lyon. But his innings was cut short by Pat Cummins’ brilliance. Soon after scoring his 50, he perished while playing a pull shot at the backward square-leg boundary.
Huge moment! The Aussies get a major breakthrough right before stumps.#AUSvIND | @hcltech pic.twitter.com/6Zww1W383l
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 10, 2021
At the end of Day 4, Australia certainly seem to have an advantage over India and the visitors will need to put on the display an unprecedented batting prowess on the final day to break their 43-year-long winless streak at the SCG.