Scott Boland Shines as Australia Claims Dominant 184-Run Win Over India in Melbourne
In a thrilling contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia delivered a stunning 184-run victory over India in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, moving ahead 2-1 in the five-match series. With just one Test remaining in Sydney, India is now under immense pressure to level the series and retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India’s chase of a steep target of 340 runs ended in a dramatic collapse as they were bowled out for 155, with just 12.5 overs left in the day. Despite a promising start from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who top-scored with a valiant 84 from 208 balls, India's middle order crumbled under the relentless Australian attack. Pat Cummins was the star of the day, claiming 3/28 and leading the charge in Australia’s victory. He dismissed Jaiswal at a crucial moment, and his spell, along with key wickets from Scott Boland (3/39), was instrumental in Australia’s dominant performance.
The day began with India at 112/3, looking to build a partnership between Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, who had dug in deep during the second session. However, Pant's reckless shot off part-time spinner Travis Head shifted the momentum. Pant's dismissal for 30 was the beginning of India’s downfall, as they lost the next four wickets for just 34 runs. Jaiswal’s gritty knock was cut short when the third umpire overturned an on-field not-out decision after a contentious caught-behind appeal. Despite there being no definitive noise on Snickometer, visual evidence led to Jaiswal’s exit, leaving India in further disarray.
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Boland then dismissed Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, leaving India with a mountain to climb. Mohammed Siraj’s dismissal off Nathan Lyon (2/37) sealed the fate of the match. Washington Sundar showed resilience by staying not out on five, but it was clear that the collapse had put India out of contention for victory.
Earlier in the day, India had already lost key wickets in the first session, with veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli all failing to make an impact. Sharma, in particular, expressed disappointment over the team's inability to capitalize on opportunities, lamenting that they were not "good enough" to secure a win despite having Australia at 90/6 in their first innings.
As for Boland, his excellent spell was crucial in breaking India's resolve. His precise lengths and accuracy caused significant problems for the Indian lower order. Boland's role in dismissing Jaiswal, Akash Deep, and Bumrah made him an instrumental figure in Australia’s victory.
Looking ahead, India’s captain Rohit Sharma emphasized the need for mental resilience heading into the final Test in Sydney. "We need to look at a lot of things as a team," said Sharma, reflecting on the disappointing loss. He also highlighted the situation with Jasprit Bumrah, noting that while Bumrah's form was exceptional, there was a risk of over-bowling him.
Australia's victory not only gave them a 2-1 lead in the series but also brought them closer to securing a place in the World Test Championship final. The win keeps them in second place on the WTC standings, as India remains third. With the final Test set to take place in Sydney, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to what has already been an action-packed series.
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