India were left frustrated at the end of day four of the MCG Test, allowing Australia to recover after reducing them to 91-6, courtesy of an unbeaten 55 stand for the tenth wicket.
India conceded a 105-run lead after being bowled out for 369 in their first innings. Centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy was the last batter to fall for the visitors, departing for an 189-ball 114. India had fallen to 221-7 at one stage before a 127-run partnership between Washington Sundar and Reddy brought them back.
The first two sessions of day four belonged to India as some high-intensity bowling saw Australia fall to 91-6. However, the tail wagged enough to push the hosts to the front foot. Australia are 228-9, already with a lead of 333, and would hope their tenth wicket stand can further add to India’s misery.
When Boland, with a batting average of 5.87, walked out at No.11, India anticipated a quick end to the innings, but they will need to walk out with the ball again after the last pair successfully thwarted India’s attempts. Lyon and Boland batted together for 17.5 overs, forcing India to take the new ball and push Australia’s lead further.
Their unbeaten 55 is the third-best tenth-wicket partnership for Australia against India, on par with the 55-run partnership that Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc had stitched together in Pune in 2017.
