India in Australia, 3rd Test, Day 4 Highlights: Australia 261/7 vs India, Lead by 326 Runs at Stumps
India finished Day 4 with a faint hope of a favourable result on Day 5 as they reduced Australia to 261/7 on Day 4. The hosts still lead by 326 runs and have a well-set Shaun Marsh in the middle. Catch all the highlights here.
Shaun Marsh's unbeaten 62 guides Australia to 261/7 at stumps on Day 4. They now lead India by 326 runs. Catch all highlights here: (Scorecard | Highlights)
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13.30 (IST): STUMPS! Australia finish on 261/7, leading India by 326 runs on Day 4.
13.05 (IST): Amid all the tension, Shaun Marsh has reached his 2nd Test fifty in style! With a six off Ashwin and is batting on 61. Australia 255/7, lead by 320 runs
12.59 (IST): Tempers continued to flare as some words were said to Johnson while he was walking back to the pavilion. He didn't seem too happy about it.
More words were exchanged after the Johnson dismissal! Tense stuff out there. LIVE: http://t.co/LDINCret7f #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/liRWMR1wps
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 29, 2014
12.56 (IST): Mitchell Johnson is gone! Take a moment to savour the fact that an Indian bowler has successfully bounced Mitchell Johnson out! The left-hander miscues a pull shot and hits it straight Ajinkya Rahane at mid-wicket. Shami has a big smile on his face. Australia are 234/7, lead by 299 runs.
12.46 (IST): Mitchell Johnson slog sweeps Ashwin against the turn and collects four runs. Australia 227/6, lead by 292 runs
12.43 (IST): Excellent umpiring there. Ishant Sharma bowls from over the stumps and Shaun Marsh offers no shot, getting struck on the pads. Ishant goes up in a vociferous appeal but Dharmasena shakes his head. None of the Indian fielders can believe it but replays showed that the ball pitched outside the leg stump. Brilliant call from Dharmasena there. Australia 222/6, lead by 287.
12.30 (IST): There is a lot of raging debate regarding Virat Kohli's outburst in the post-match press conference yesterday. Was he justified? Did he overdo it? Does it even matter? Have your say here: goo.gl/amLNBB. Results on air on NDTV 24X7 at 6.30 pm.
12.09 (IST): OUT! Brad Haddin is gone! He's caught down the leg side by Dhoni off Umesh Yadav. Australia 202/6, lead by 267 runs.
11.59 (IST): The match is now very well poised. Australia are five down and lead is just past 250 with close to an hour's play left.
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11.41 (IST): Excellent phase of bowling from India. Just six runs and a wicket off six overs since tea.
11.30 (IST): Brad Haddin walks out and gets a 'warm welcome' from Virat Kohli.
"Virat Kohli has come up and said Hello Brad. Welcome to the crease!" - @ShaneWarne. #AUSvIND #WWOS pic.twitter.com/rMbI8WmWJG
- Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) December 29, 2014
11.28 (IST): OUT! Joe Burns (9) is gone! Caught behind by MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma. Australia 176/5
11.13 (IST): Time for the final session! Ishant Sharma starts the proceedings. Can India turn the tides before Day 5?
10.55 (IST): Tea Time! Australia (530 & 174/4) lead India (465) by 239 runs.
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10.42 (IST): OUT! Ravichandran Ashwin gets rid of Rogers! A tentative forward push from Rogers doesn't stop the ball from rolling behind and onto the stumps. He goes for 69. Australia 164/4, lead by 229 runs.
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10.37 (IST): Chris Rogers is in top form. He gets two back-to-back fours off Ishant Sharma. First straight down the ground and then through covers. He moves on to 68. Australia 163/3
10.30 (IST): Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack. Interesting to see how Shaun Marsh plays him. Australia 153/3, lead India by 218 runs.
10.15 (IST): Close! Chris Rogers pulls a Shami delivery to Dhoni, who takes a low, diving catch. Umpire Kettleborough is not certain and referred it to the third umpire. After several replays, the third umpire felt there was enough evidence that it may have been grassed by Dhoni and Rogers survives.
10.08 (IST): OUT! The leg slip ploy has worked! Steve Smith tries to flick a leg-side ball from Umesh Yadav but Ajinkya Rahane, at leg-slip, takes a good, diving catch. Smith is miffed with himself, he walks back for 14. Australia 131/3, lead India by 196 runs.
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09.26 (IST): 100 comes up for Australia! Rogers gets a four between slips and gully off Shami. Australia 102/2, lead by 167 runs.
09.22 (IST): OUT! Shane Watson is gone! He edges an Ishant Sharma delivery and Dhoni takes a good, low catch. Umpires check for no ball and Ishant is just about ok. Watson walks back for 17, Australia 98/2
09.10 (IST): Poor, poor start from Ishant Sharma! He starts off by bowling down the leg and then is unlucky as Shikhar Dhawan drops a catch after Rogers edges one. Ishant follows it up with one on the pads which is flicked away to the mid-wicket fence. Australia 94/1
08.56 (IST): News coming in is that play is set to resume in 10 minutes. Australia 90/1, lead India by 155 runs.
Play will resume at 2.35pm AEDT on @Channel9. #AUSvIND #WWOS pic.twitter.com/B7C8Y4p2Yj
- Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) December 29, 2014
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07.45 (IST): Oh dear! There's a massive wind and some drizzle at the MCG. The second session will have a delayed start. Australia 90/1, lead India by 155 runs.
A big gust of wind caused havoc during the MILO Cricket in the lunch break on day four! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LqPxNjbcOS
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 29, 2014
07.05 (IST): LUNCH! That's the end of the first session. Australia go in at 90/1, lead India by 155 runs.
06.50 (IST): Immaculate timing from Chris Rogers! Ishant Sharma strays down the leg side and Roger flicks well through mid-wicket to collect three runs. Australia 83/1, lead by 147 runs.
06.32 (IST): OUT! Ravichandran Ashwin has struck! He traps David Warner in front of the stumps for 40. Ashwin tossed that one up and Warner came forward to play a foward defensive stroke and was struck on the pads. Warner didn't look too happy with the decision but replays suggest it was hit on line. Australia 57/1
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 06.15 (IST): Not much turn for Ashwin. He concedes two runs in 2 overs . Australia 48/0
06.02 (IST): Ravichandran Ashwin is into the attack and starts from round the stumps to make good use of the rough.
06.00 (IST): Warner is on absolute fire here He stands his ground and smashes a Shami delivery through covers. Australia 45/0
05.50 (IST): What a start for Australia! They've capitalised on mediocre Indian bowling and have raced away to a 100-plus lead. Australia 39/0
05.37 (IST): Poor start by Indian bowlers once again! Far too much width on offer for David Warner who has raced away to 18 off 12 balls. Australia 20/0
05.20 (IST): India have lost their last seven wickets for just 56 runs.
05.17 (IST): India 465 all out! Mitchell Johnson has wiped out the tail as Shami is gone, caught by Smith off Johnson. Australia have a 65-run lead.
05.10 (IST): OUT! Umesh Yadav is gone second ball! Johnson bowls a snorter, squares up Umesh and a faint nick off his glove goes straight to Haddin. India 462/9
05.00 (IST): Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav walk out with India on 462/8. The deficit is 68 runs. Can the two throw their bat around and help their side close in on the Australian total?
04.15 (IST): Day 4 holds great promise after an eventful Day 3, highlighted by the Kohli-Johnson show! India trail by 68 runs but the last-ball wicket of Virat Kohli tilts the match in Australia's favour. However, Ravichandran Ashwin will be eager to bowl on what looks like a deteriorating wicket.
A few cracks starting to appear on this Day 4 surface, mainly at the northern end #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kSFuWNPgtg
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 28, 2014
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Virat Kohli was the hero on Sunday after he hit a career-best 169. That his knock was one that showcases his skills and talent was one thing. The other was that it came despite Australian bowlers using all sorts of banter to intimidate him - hardly finding any success. (They hate me, called me spoit brat, I love it: Virat Kohli)
Credit was also due to Ajinkya Rahane who scored 147 to once again show that being consistent is a gift that he has in abundance. He provided good support to his vice-captain. Such was the impact of the partnership that despite a flurry of a few wickets towards the end of Sunday, India had come close to the Australian total. (Kohli, Rahane's resolve impresses Gavaskar)
Indian tail will now hope to build on the platform provided by Kohli and Rahane. Unlike their Aussie counterparts, the Indian tailenders have not shown their batting skills so far on the tour. While most expect India to fall short of the Aussie 1st innings total, even a minor lead can be of psychological advantage.
The onus though would be on how they ball later in the day. Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV on Sunday that Ravichandran Ashwin will be the man to watch out for. He also noted that troubling in-form Aussie batsman won't be easy but in their demise would be the true success of the bowling unit.
Australia (530 & 174/4) lead India (465) by 239 runs at tea. Rogers 69; Ashwin 2/20