Australia ripped out seven Indian wickets in the final session of a dramatic fourth Test in Melbourne yesterday to win a thriller by 184 runs and go 2-1 up in the five-match series.
India crumbled to 155 all out with just 12.5 overs left in the match and would need to win the final Test starting in Sydney on Friday to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“What an amazing Test match,” said Australia captain Pat Cummins, who was named Player of the Match for his six wickets and 90 runs in a pulsating contest played out in front of record crowds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Photo: AFP
“I reckon that’s one of the best I’ve been part of. I mean, all week, the crowd’s been ridiculous, and the cricket’s been just as good,” he said.
Set an unlikely 340 to win, India looked well placed to salvage a draw when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant batted through the second session in unflustered fashion to take their side to 112-3 at tea.
However, Pant perished trying to slog part-time spinner Travis Head for six to spark a collapse as India’s last seven wickets fell for 34 runs from 20.3 overs.
Top-scorer Jaiswal was out for 84 to Cummins, who took 3-28 in the innings, and Nathan Lyon ended the contest when he trapped Mohammed Siraj LBW to spark wild scenes of celebration among the home team.
Pace bowler Mitchell Starc said Australia never lost faith they could force victory in the last session.
“There were a few patches through the day with the wicket not doing a whole lot, but we managed to find a way,” Starc said. “I think that’s just a feature of the group at the moment, is that calmness, to have that belief that we can get the job done.”
The departure of Pant for 30 ended an 88-run partnership with Jaiswal and rejuvenated the Australia bowlers.
Ravindra Jadeja and first-innings centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy went quickly before Cummins ended Jaiswal’s gritty 208-ball knock in controversial fashion.
The 23-year-old was given not out to a caught-behind appeal from an attempted hook.
However, the decision was overturned by the TV umpire on visual evidence that the ball had changed direction, even though no noise was picked up by technology.
Akash Deep was caught at short leg off Scott Boland, who took 3-39, before Jasprit Bumrah scored his second duck of the match.
A tenacious Washington Sundar was left not out five after facing 45 balls.
Cummins completed an inspirational Test, with his 90 runs in the two innings being the best match tally of his career.
Cummins removed opposing captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and Starc dismissed Kohli from the last ball before lunch to leave India tottering at 33-3.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
RSS