It was an enthralling day at The Gabba in the fourth and final Test between Australia and India on Monday.
Starting Day 4 at 21/0, Australia openers David Warner and Marcus Harris added 68 more runs to their overnight score before both fell in the space of an over.
That's 2️⃣ wickets for 2️⃣ runs off seven balls
Washington Sundar takes the scalp of David Warner for 48.#AUSvIND | https://t.co/oDTm209M8z pic.twitter.com/3qw2VTnarg
— ICC (@ICC) January 18, 2021
Australia talisman Steve Smith notched up his 31st half-century to put the hosts in a commanding position in the series decider.
Steve Smith brings up his 31st Test half-century off 69 balls.#AUSvIND | https://t.co/oDTm209M8z pic.twitter.com/wm8TcshaVn
— ICC (@ICC) January 18, 2021
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma was seen shadow batting at the crease even as Smith and Cameron Green watched on. The former Australian captain Smith was earlier accused of scuffing up Rishabh Pant's guard during the Sydney Test.
Its another shameful act of the series by Steve Smith as he is standing on the pitch when Rohit Sharma is clearly batting. pic.twitter.com/kwJg0d0ryR
— Yash Patel • યશ પટેલ (@yash_8005) January 18, 2021
Meanwhile Smith to Rohit:#AUSvsIND https://t.co/sA5SDMZqva pic.twitter.com/TGUnw1dEfa
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 18, 2021
#AUSvsIND
Rohit Sharma imitating Steve Smith..(Tap for Full Pic) pic.twitter.com/2U9AosNYuQ
— TheMysteryBoy// Self_Stan (@Black_Storm02) January 18, 2021
On the other hand, cameras captured Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Pant singing "Spiderman Spiderman, tune churaya dil ka chen" even as Australia captain Tim Paine was batting on the fourth day in Brisbane.
#AUSvsIND
Rishabh Pant singing spiderman spiderman tune churaya mere dil ka chen.. behind the stumps.
Watch till end #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/AKI4nDlLD7— i.AkshayChhajed (@iakshaychhajed) January 18, 2021
Recommendation for you if you’re Rishabh Pant or you love Rishabh Pant pic.twitter.com/FE5ODszUST
— amazon prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) January 18, 2021
Later in the day, India bowled Australia out for 294 as the visitors needed 328 runs to lift the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Innings Break!
Australia all out for 294 in the second innings. A 5-wicket haul for Siraj and a brilliant 4-wkt haul for Shardul Thakur.
Live - https://t.co/bSiJ4wEymL #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RUtvFTJ8v8
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2021
For Team India, pacer Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief as he claimed five wickets for 73 to become only the fifth Indian bowler to pick a five-wicket haul in a Test at The Gabba.
A maiden Test five-for in his debut series for Mohammed Siraj #AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/nk3dngjuvX
— ICC (@ICC) January 18, 2021
The right-arm fast bowler has ended up being India's highest wicket-taker in the ongoing series with 13 wickets, bowling 134.1 overs, the most by an Indian bowler in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2021.
Mohammed Siraj in the Test series:
15-4-40-2
21.3-4-37-3
25-4-67-1
25-5-90-1
28-10-77-1
19.5-5-73-5- Playing his first Test series.
- 13 wickets from 3 Tests.
- Leading wicket taker of India.Take a bow, Siraj. pic.twitter.com/CjPlpe5ULJ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 18, 2021
Interestingly, Australia have been bowled out in each innings of a Test at the Gabba for just the third time in the last 32 years across 32 Tests, the other instances came against West Indies in 1992/92 and New Zealand in 2008/09.
Australia have been bowled out twice in a test match in Gabba only for the thrid time in 32 years at the Gabba.
Unbelievable isn't it? Ishant, Bumrah, Shami, Umesh, Ashwin, Jadeja all absent and yet this happens.#AUSvsIND
— Vinod Ramnath (@NaanumEngineer) January 18, 2021
On the final day of the series, India will need 324 runs more, with all their wickets intact, when they come out to bat on Tuesday to win the fourth and final Test in Brisbane.
India need 324 runs to win on Day 5 of the 4th Test.
Join us as an exciting day of Test cricket awaits.
Scorecard - https://t.co/bSiJ4wEymL #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bPsCBzt9nM
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2021
The visitors reached 4/0 in their chase of 328 in the extended final session on Monday before rain started pouring in and umpires were forced to call for early Stumps.
Only 1.5 overs could be bowled in India's second innings on Day 4 as openers Rohit and Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 4 and 0 respectively.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter
