India vs Australia Highlights, 2nd Test, Day 4: ‘Really proud of all the players,’ Rahane delighted with India’s win in Melbourne

India vs Australia Highlights 2nd Test Day 4: India have levelled the four-match series 1-1 after winning the second Test match in Melbourne by 8 wickets. Gill and Rahane kept their composure after Pujara and Agarwal lost their wickets as India chased down a 70-run total to win the Boxing Day Test on Day 4. Mohammed Siraj got two, Ashwin got one while Bumrah dismissed Pat Cummins as India bowled Australia for 200 in the second Test in Melbourne. India need to score 70 runs to win the Test and level the series. Siraj got rid off the dangerous Cameron Green for 45. Jasprit Bumrah broke the stubborn stand between Cameron Green and Pat Cummins by dismissing the latter with a bouncer as India struck with the second new ball on Day 4. Even after an injury to Umesh Yadav, who got the first breakthrough of Joe Burns before getting injured, India led by Ashwin and Bumrah rattle Australia in 2nd innings picking 6 of their wickets under a 100. It looked like India might register an innings win but Cameron Green and Pat Cummins took Australia to safety at the end of Day 3. Follow IND vs AUS scorecard 2nd Test Day 4 here

10:00 hrs IST

India vs Australia Highlights, 2nd Test, Day 4. (via REUTERS)

MCG- Happy Hunting Ground for India

Melbourne Cricket Ground has become India’s most successful overseas venue as they have won four Tests in 14 matches. Next on the list is Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain where India have won 3 matches in 13 Tests.

9:54 hrs IST

Rahane’s record

Rahane has captained India in only three Test matches and has won all those. He is only the second Indian skipper to win his first three Test matches as captain after MS Dhoni.

9:45 hrs IST

Paine disappointed with loss

“Pretty disappointed. We played some poor cricket, sloppy cricket for a major part of the game. Credit to India, they forced us into mistakes with the bat, ball and also on the field. And when you do that against a quality team, it costs you. But again, need to credit India as they put us under pressure. We have issues with the batting and need to get it sorted,” Paine said at the presentation ceremony.

9:38 hrs IST

Rahane on Rohit and Umesh

“Umesh is recovering well, management and medical staff will take the call. We’re excited about Rohit coming back. Spoke to him yesterday, he’s waiting to join the team,” Rahane said.

9:36 hrs IST

Rahane named MoM

Ajinkya Rahane has been named the man of the match for his performance with the bat and while leading the side in Melbourne. Rahane scored 112 and 27 runs in the both the innings for India.

9:32 hrs IST

Rahane on debutants

“Really proud of all the players. Played really well. Want to give credit to the debutants Siraj and Gill, the character they showed after the Adelaide loss was great to see. Shubman, we all know his First-class career and in this game, he has shown the intent to play shots at this level. Has shown composure. Siraj has shown that he can bowl with discipline. It’s really difficult for debutants to bowl with discipline but that’s where I think the First-class experience comes in handy,” Rahane said after the match.

9:25 hrs IST

Important win for India

After the debacle in Adelaide, India needed to boost their confidence and they did exactly that by winning the match in Melbourne comfortably. Rahane will get a lot of plaudits for the way he has led the side against Australia.

9:21 hrs IST

Rahane - MOM

Ajinkya Rahane has lead the side from the front as he scored a century in the first innings while impressing everyone with his captaincy in the second Test.

9:17 hrs IST

Victory for India

India have claimed victory in the second Test and levelled the series 1-1. It has been a Test match which has been thoroughly dominated by the Indian team with the batsmen and bowlers both performing for their country. India chased down the 70-run target in overs with Gill and Rahane seeing them through.

9:15 hrs IST

Labuschagne to Gill: Four

Shubman Gill did not waste any time to score some runs against part-time spinner Marnus Labuschagne. He hit a boundary on the first ball he faced.

9:09 hrs IST

Hazlewood to Gill: Four

Josh Hazlewood bowled a bouncer and Gill was ready for it as he dispatched the ball to the boundary with a controlled pull shot.

9:03 hrs IST

Boundary

Ajinkya Rahane smashed two boundaries off Hazlewood as he has upped the ante to complete the run-chase as quickly as possible.

8:57 hrs IST

Cummins to Gill: Four

Gill went for a drive but had a big leading edge as the ball raced towards the boundary between slips and the gully region. India only 28 runs away from victory.

8:48 hrs IST

Rahane looking fluent

Ajinkya Rahane will look to see India through in his short run-chase. He is timing the ball well and is playing his shots freely.

8:37 hrs IST

Another wicket

Cheteshwar Pujara has followed Mayank to the pavilion as he is dismissed after scoring just 3 runs. Cummins enticed Pujara into the shot and got a wicket.

8:30 hrs IST

Starc to Agarwal: WICKET

Mayank Agarwal could not make the most of this opportunity as he went for a drive off Starc and edged it to Tim Paine. Agarwal goes after scoring 5 runs and India need 54 to win.

8:27 hrs IST

Crucial innings for Mayank

It is a crucial innings for Mayank as Rohit Sharma is waiting in the wings after completing his quarantine. He hasn’t looked at his best during the tour and could lose his place for the next Test as Shubman has impressed with the bat.

8:21 hrs IST

Shubman- Future star?

Even though he is playing his first international Test match of his career, Shubman has looked impressive during his stay at the crease. The confidence he has exuded has been a positive for India. He looks unfazed by the Australian pace attack.

8:14 hrs IST

Boundary

Shubman Gill has played a beautiful cover drive to hit India's first four of the second innings.

8:07 hrs IST

Gill, Agarwal walking out

The batsman are walking out to bat as India begin their run-chase of 70.

7:30 hrs IST

Ashwin to Hazlewood: Bowled!

Ashwin bamboozled Hazlewood with his spin. Hazlewood tried to leave the ball but he misjudged it as the ball went on to clip the bails. Australia are bowled for 200 and defend a target of just 70 runs. The players are heading back to the pavilion for Lunch.

7:25 hrs IST

Umpire’s Call again

Ashwin bowled a delivery which straightened after pitching and Umpire did not give a decision in their favour. India took the DRS but replays again showed that the ball was clipping the bails. It went to Umpire’s call and it was given not out.

7:20 IST

Can India bowl out Australia

India are looking to bowl out Australia before the teams head back for Lunch. Hazlewood and Starc have frustrated India in the last 15 minutes with their resolute batting.

7:07 hrs IST

India given an extension

Umpires have given India an extra half hour to dismiss Australia before the players head back for Lunch.

6:57 hrs IST

Siraj gets Lyon’s wicket

Mohammed Siraj has picked up his third wicket of the match as he lured Lyon into playing a shot on the leg side. Rishabh Pant took an easy catch. Australia now nine wickets down and with a lead of just 54 runs.

6:51 hrs IST

DRS saves Starc

Jadeja has managed to get an edge off Starc’s bat and the catch has been taken by the Rahane. But Starc immediately went for the review and it proved to be successful as there was no edge and the ball was also missing the stumps while checking for LBW.

6:43 hrs IST

Australia lead by 50 now

R Ashwin has come into the attack for the second time in the day and bowls a good over. Australia’s lead meanwhile has reached 50. One would like to believe this nowhere near something that will give India headaches on this flat deck.

6:39 hrs IST

A beauty from Siraj to end the over

He’s got his tail up hasn’t he Siraj? Two superb deliveries to end his over. One a bouncer to test Starc and then a length delivery from around the wicket that moved away to beat his outside edge.

6:31 hrs IST

Siraj gets Green

OUT! Straight to Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket, Cameron Green can’t quite believe his luck. He was just opening up his shoulders, looking to be positive but this time finds the fielder. It was a shortish delivery from Siraj, Green went for the pull, did not get it anywhere middle off the bat and Jadeja at mid wicket won’t miss those. A very important wicket for India. Australia 8 down.

6:29 hrs IST

Siraj to Green: FOUR

Fantastic shot from Cameron Green. he timing was spot on as it races away for a boundary even in this sluggish outfield. This has been excellent innings from Green so far. Siraj just strays towards the middle and leg and Green flicks it past the mid on fielder for a four.

6:24 hrs IST

Double change, Jadeja into the attack

After Siraj replaced Bumrah and bowled a maiden, we now see Jadeja coming into the attack in place of Ashwin. Interesting to see off Starc and Green go against the left-arm spinner, there has been change of gears in Green’s batting ever since Cummins got out.

6:19 hrs IST

Siraj replaces Bumrah

Bowling change for India. Mohammed Siraj has replaces Bumrah in the attack. This will be Siraj’s first over with the new ball today.

6:13 hrs IST

FOUR leg byes

Bbumrah just straying down the pads and it just clips the thigh pad of Green and beats the diving hands of Rishabh Pant to race away to the fine leg boundary. Just keep an eye on the Australian lead, it has now reached 34.

6:08 hrs IST

Flicked away by Green

An attempted yorker from Bumrah but ends up bowling a low full toss and Green tucks it off his pads. It doesn’t have the legs to go the boundary and Mohammed Siraj at fine leg does a good of cutting it off. But a good result for Australia, 3 runs off the final ball will mean Green will have the strike in Ashwin’s next over. Australia 160/7

6:04 hrs IST

Ashwin bowls a maiden to Starc

India have a very clear plan here, that is to frustrate Mitchell Starc with Ashwin bowling wide outside the off stump. They know he likes to go for the big shot against the spinners but so far he hasn’t. It resulted in a maiden for Ashwin.

5:58 hrs IST

Bumrah breaks the stand

Just as we were about to reach an hour of play without much action Jasprit Bumrah puts his hand up for everyone to take notice. What a brutal bouncer that was. Nothing much was happening off the pitch and Bumrah decides to test Cummins with a bouncer aimed at his body and Australian pacer fends at it, gets a glove, the ball lobs up in the air and rests into the hands of Mayank Agarwal in the slips. Australia 156/7

5:53 hrs IST

Ashwin to Green: FOUR

Short and wide from Ashwin and Green takes full advantage of it, cuts it away behind point for a four. It just sat up there to be hit, first real loose delivery from India this morning and it results in the first boundary of Day 4. Australia now 154/6, lead by 23 runs.

5:50 hrs IST

A maiden from Bumrah

An event-less maiden to start the proceedings with the second new ball. Jasprit Bumrah did get the ball to shape away on a couple of occasions and got one to come back in to Green. So encouraging signs for India.

5:46 hrs IST

India take 2nd new ball

The second is available and Rahane takes it immediately. It will be Jasprit Bumrah with bran new cherry. India are desperate for a breakthrough now. Australia’s lead slowly growing now.

5:44 hrs IST

50 partnership between Green and Cummins

Green picks up a single and that will be the 50 partnership between him and Cummins. This partnership has not only made sure India will have to bat again but has also given Australia hope of a miracle.

5:41 hrs IST

Good use of the feet from Green

Green came down the track thrice in this over from Ashwin and each time he got to the pitch of the ball. 4 runs come from the over and this partnership is keeping the scoreboard ticking beautifully. There hasn’t been a boundary yet but they have managed to score 15 runs without the loss of a wicket.

5:37 hrs IST

Jadeja comes into the attack

Not surprising at all. The second new ball is only 4 overs away and Rahane wants to make sure both his seamers are fresh. And Jadeja accurate as always, doesn’t let the pressure go off and bowls a maiden to start with.

5:34 hrs IST

India lose a review

It was poor one. Rishabh Pant did just that it was high but Rahane went for the review and replays confirmed that the ball would have bounced over. The fact that Cummins did not offer a shot to that Ashwin delivery, might have prompted Rahane to go for the review.

5:31 hrs IST

Another maiden

Good battle going on between Mohammed Siraj and Cameron Green. The latter is trying to bat out of his crease to negate the in-swing that got him in the first innings. Siraj, on the other hand is adamant to hit Green on the pads. It’s a maiden nonetheless for India.

5:25 hrs IST

First bowling change and Siraj starts well

Another one of those instinctive moves from Ajinkya Rahane. He throws the ball to debutant Siraj after a couple of overs from Bumrah and Siraj starts well. We have to keep in mind that the new ball is due in 7 overs so this is actually a ploy from Rahane not to overbowl Bumrah. Australia 141/6

5:22 hrs IST

Australia trying to be positive

Cummins and Green have walked out with a good attitude today. They know India will come at them hard and bowl some good balls but they are not ready to let scoring opportunities go by so despite some real tough line and lengths from Ashwin and Bumrah both Green and Cummins have nudged a single or a double here and there to keep the scoreboard ticking.

5:14 hrs IST

Another tight over from Ashwin

Pat Cummins almost went for the big shot there, Ashwin knew it, he was inches away from inducing the false shot. This is another good over from the India off-spinner. Australia got one run off it and they are at 137/6

5:10 hrs IST

Edged but doesn’t carry

Bumrah finds the outside edge of Pat Cummins’ bat but the ball doesn’t carry to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip. It just moved away to kiss Cummins’ defensive prod but the good for Australia’s perspective was that he did not go at it with hard hands.

5:08 hrs IST

Ashwin starts with a maiden

Ashwin can bowl on those perfect lines and lengths day in and day out. He once again starts Day 4 with the perfect lines and bowls a maiden to Green. India have thrown the ball to two of their best bowlers.

5:05 hrs IST

3 runs off Bumrah’s first over

Bumrah made Cameron Green play all six deliveries, that is always a good thing for any fast bowlers at the start of the day but the young Australian was up for it. He confidently defended all of them and managed to get 3 runs. Australia 136/6

5:02 hrs IST

Bumrah starts the proceedings on Day 4

Bumrah bowls the first ball of Day 4. A positive push and a quick single. Looks like there will be an overthrow too. So Cameron Green and Australia begin Day 4 with 2 runs, good intent from the Australians straightaway.

4:58 hrs IST

India hope Australia’s tail doesn’t wag

Wrapping up the tail has been one of India’s biggest issues in overseas conditions. Last night, Cameron Green and Pat Cummins put up an unbroken 34-run stand to take a slender 2-run lead. India would hope they can dislodge the partnership early on Day 4 and bowl Australia out quickly.

4:55 hrs IST

IND vs AUS live Day 4 pitch report

“It looks a very good wicket, still some grass in there but it will be good for batting,” says Glenn McGrath. “Doesn’t look the cracks will playa big part. Even yesterday there was just one ball which probably behaved out of the ordinary,” says Ajit Agarkar on the Melbourne pitch for Day 4.

4:48 hrs IST

India vs Australia live score 2nd Test Day 4 - Bumrah, Ashwin key

Is that the best Bumrah and Ashwin have bowled in tandem? Perhaps yes. India’s two best bowlers stepped up when it mattered the most. With Umesh Yadav down, Ashwin got rid off Marnus Labuschagne, and then Bumrah gave the body blow to Australia by dismissing Steve Smith.

4:44 hrs IST

Debutant Siraj very impressive

Mohammed Siraj upped his game several notches after India stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane trusted him to step up in the absence of the injured Umesh Yadav. Siraj did not get a bag full of wickets but he looked like getting one every over. The debutant picked up the important wicket of Travis Head in the final session of Day 3.

4:40 hrs IST

Steve Smith struggling

After Ashwin outfoxed him twice in the series, it was the turn of India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to knock Steve Smith over for his fourth consecutive single digit score in Test cricket. Bumrah got one to nip back in, it hit Smith’s pad and then went on to clip the top of leg stump as Smith was bowled round his legs for 8. The wicket turned out to be an important one for India in the final session.

4:35 hrs IST

India vs Australia live score: Umesh Yadav injury

It is unlikely that Umesh Yadav will play any further part in this Test match. He was taken for scans after he hobbled off the field with a calf injury and as per the latest update is that the pacer is also doubtful for the next Test match in Sydney.

4:28 hrs IST

Day 4 round-up

India resumed the day with a lead of 82 and five wickets in hand but Ajinkya Rahane’s run out (112) triggered another collapse as they were bowled out for 326, leading Australia by 131 runs. Ravindra Jadeja scored 57. In reply, Umesh Yadav sent back Joe Burns with a beauty before hobbling off with an injured calf. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran, Mohammed Siraj got a wicket apiece before Jadeja got rid of Matthew Wade, and Tim Paine in the final session to reduce Australia to 99 for six. Cameron Green and Pat Cummins put their head down and ensured India have to bat again by taking Australia to 133 for six at stumps. They lead India by 2 runs.

4:18 hrs IST

India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 4 live

Raise your hands if you expect this Test match to end in the first session? It won’t be a surprise if a lot of Indian fans raise theirs. Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 4. For a large part of the final session, we thought we might not even need to come out today but a late stubborn stand ensured you and I had to wake up early. Follow IND vs AUS 2nd Test Day 4 live