India closed in on their maiden Test series triumph in Australia before bad light and rain combined to delay the inevitable, adding more hours to a wait of 71 years.
India closed in on their maiden Test series triumph in Australia before bad light and rain combined to delay the inevitable, adding more hours to a wait of 71 years.
India vs Australia, 4th Test: Live scores & full commentary
Bad light stopped play in the final session of Day three of the fourth Test as the hosts, responding to India's mammoth first-innings total of 622 for seven declared, were reduced to 236 for six in 83.3 overs on Saturday.
With two full days play left in the game and Australia still 386 runs adrift of India's score, the visitors will fancy their chances of winning the four-match rubber 3-1.
India first went Down Under back in 1947-48 under Lala Amarnath's captaincy, and are yet to achieve series triumph there despite eleven attempts.
Here are live updates from Day 4 of the fourth Test:
1. Rain delays start of Day 4
)
The Day three of the fourth Test between India and Australia was forced into early stumps on Saturday due to heavy rains and bad light. At the close of day's play, the Aussies were struggling at 236 for 6 as they still trailed India by 386 runs.
Even today, the play of the fourth day has failed to get underway on schedule at 10 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) on the fourth day because of light rain.
Official: Play to restart at 11am local time. That’s 20 minutes. If there is no more rain of course. #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 5, 2019
According to the latest news from Sydney, the rain has stopped and the covers are being removed.
2. Day 4: More rain, more delay
)
"More rain in Sydney. Big covers going on. Play has again be delayed," cricket.com.au has tweeted. If it keeps raining at this rate, we might end up losing an entire session on Day 4. PC: ScreenGrab
3. Rain washes out first session
)
It's still raining in Sydney and the big covers are on. The first session has been officially washed out and lunch is taken. If the rain stops soon, the second session post lunch is expected to begin after half an hour or so. PC: Twitter
4. Shami strikes, Cummins OUT!
)
The play finally resumes on Day 4 and Kohli immediately takes the second new ball. Mohammed Shami with the ball and Pat Cummins on the strike and OUT! Shami does the job, knocks Cummins' off-stump with the new ball. Shami bowled a short ball, traps Cummins on the back-foot who never recovered after moving back. Gets his off-stump knocked out and what a start by Team India!
Watch Shami's incredible ball that got Cummins out here:
Mohammed shami taken the wicket of pat cummins pic.twitter.com/4HKKs5RI8O
— Nikhil singh (@Nikhilk77588539) January 6, 2019
Mitch Starc is the new man in to join Peter Handscomb in the middle.
Australia 257 for 7, trail by 365 runs
5. Bumrah roars as he removes Handscomb
)
Jasprit Bumrah's celebration says it all! The Indian fast bowler goes roaring as he knocks out Handscomb's off-stump. It's his first wicket of the innings and now he is a wicket away from recording his 50th Test wicket. PC: ScreenGrab
Australia 257/8
6. Lyon goes, 4th wicket for Kuldeep!
)
The Indians are ripping apart the Aussies on Day 4 here. Kuldeep bowls a fuller delivery that dips right into the batsman and hits him on the pads, as Lyon goes on his knees to sweep it away. The umpire raises his finger instantly and Team India breaks into a massive celebration. They are a wicket away from wrapping up Aussie tail.
Australia 265/9, trail by 357 runs
7. Australia 300-all out; Kuldeeps maiden 5-for overseas
)
Kuldeep bowls a googly to Hazlewood, who tries to defend it but ends up getting hit on the front pad. The on-field umpire Ian Gould adjudges him LBW but the Aussie asks for a DRS review. The Hotspot and RTS confirm there was no bat so the umpire's decision stays and Australia are wrapped up here for 300. It was wicket No. 5 for Kuldeep, who bags his maiden five-wicket haul overseas. He becomes the sixth Indian bowler to claim a five-for at the SCG.
Aussies still trail by 322, so will Virat Kohli enforce the follow-on? Let's see!
8. Aussies to bat again as Kohli enforces follow-on!
)
Virat Kohli finally enforces the follow-on to make the climax of the series even more interesting. Australia trail by 322 runs as they are asked to bat again on Day 4. Michael Clarke's observation earlier was bang on when Kohli persisted with his spinners and didn't give many overs to his pacers earlier today.
The Australian openers Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja walk out of the dugout but they are made to wait here as a vocal Kohli is with the team hurdle on the field. The facial expressions and body language of the skipper speak volumes about his intent and character as the leader. He clearly didn't want to win the series by drawing the final Test. Much wow! PC: AFP
9. Early tea taken after bad light stops play
)
Just after four overs are bowled, umpires signal stop of play due to bad light. The Indian skipper clearly is unhappy with the call as he walks up to on-field umpire Ian Gould to have a chat. The Aussie batsmen walk away anyway and the Indian too are forced to leave the field. An early tea is taken on Day 4. PC: AFP
Australia 6/0, trail by 316 runs
