Australia’s tail stands tall to push lead over 300 in nail-biting Boxing Day Test

The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series is set for a titanic finish after Australia’s tail ensured India would need to chase more than 300 runs on the final day to win.
After the heroics of Nitish Kumar Reddy the day before, it was Jasprit Bumrah and Marnus Labuschagne who produced performances that could be looked back on at the end of the Test as vital to either side’s victory.
Australia were in trouble at 6-91 in the second innings at the MCG, but 70 to Labuschagne and the final three wickets accumulating 59 runs ensured India had their work cut out for them if they were to win and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia ended day four on 9-228 with Nathan Lyon (41 not out) and Scott Boland (10 not out) at the crease, with a lead of 333 runs.
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India began their day still in the first innings, 9-358 and trailing Australia by 116 runs.
India was able to add 11 to their overnight score before century-maker Nitish Kumar Reddy was caught in the deep off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 114.
With a lead of 105, Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja walked out into the middle with the game in the balance.
Bumrah (4-42) was peppering the off stump from the first ball.
Khawaja was dropped on two at leg gully by Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was the first of three dropped catches for the 23-year-old, who also put down Marnus Labuchagne and Pat Cummins in the innings.
Combined, those three scored an extra 63 runs after being dropped by Jaiswal, which could be crucial in such a tight Test.
Konstas could not replicate his heroics from the first innings, bowled by Bumrah for eight in the seventh over.
Mohammed Siraj was demoted from opening the bowling in this innings but responded perfectly, bowling Khawaja before lunch for 21.
Mohammed Siraj was fired up to get rid of set batter Marnus Labschagne in the final session. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)
Labuschagne (70 off 139) and Steve Smith looked solid after lunch, but Smith edging a wide ball from Siraj triggered a collapse in the Australian middle order.
Australia went from 2-80 to 6-91 in the space of 22 balls.
Bumrah was the star, claiming Travis Head (1) and Mitch Marsh (0) caught behind, then bowling Alex Carey for two.
A 57-run partnership between Labuschagne and Cummins pushed Australia’s lead over 250 before Siraj struck again to dismiss Labuschagne lbw.
Australia’s tail wagged to add 80 runs for the final three wickets, despite a calamitous run-out of Mitchell Starc (5).
Lyon was dropped by Siraj in a caught-and-bowled attempt, and a no-ball denied Bumrah a fifth wicket when Lyon was caught at slip.
Look back at all the action in our live blog below, and check out the full ScoreCentre.
Key Events
Live: Boxing Day Test — Australia vs India
STUMPS: Australia 9-228 (Lyon 41, Boland 10)
What an intoxicating Test match this has been, you can’t take your eyes off it.
India looked for all money to be set to bat tonight when Pat Cummins was dismissed with Australia’s total on 173.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was even doing some stretches anticipating his batting innings.
However, Australia’s final two batters, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland, have frustrated the living hell out of India with an unbeaten 55-run partnership.
The partnership has seen Australia’s lead swell to 333, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Cummins chooses to declare overnight.
All three results are still on the table heading into day five, which is what you want out of any Test match.
Although, this partnership has most likely batted Australia to safety. If India is to win this Test match, it would have to set an MCG record for a fourth-innings run chase.
Tune in tomorrow for what’s sure to be more must-watch cricket! We will go live around 10am AEDT.
82nd over – Bumrah into the attack for the final over
Jasprit Bumrah will share the new ball with Akash Deep.
FOUR! Bumrah with a tired old full toss, Lyon glides it past backward point for a boundary. That’s the worst ball he’s bowled all tour.
Good running from this pair, another one worked into the off side by Lyon and they come back for two.
CAUGHT! BUT IT’S A NO-BALL! KL Rahul takes a tumbling catch in the slips off Lyon, but the replays show it’s a no ball. The frustration continues for India.
Lyon works it through the leg side for another two runs. That brings up the 50 partnership for these two. Incredible stuff.
FOUR! Lyon edges the final ball of the day past the slips for another boundary!
81st over – India takes the second new ball
Akash continues and Lyon whips one onto the leg side for a single.
After one ball with the old ball, India opts to take the second new ball.
BIG APPEAL! Akash goes short and it’s down the leg side, perilously close to Boland’s glove. Umpire Joel Wilson is unmoved.
Boland works the second ball into the off side for a single.
FOUR! Imperious from Lyon! Akash goes full and Lyon plays a delightful lofted on drive past the infield for a boundary.
This partnership for Australia’s 10th wicket is now 40!
Lyon works the final ball into the leg side for a single.
80th over – Washington continues against tailenders
The official attendance for today is in, it’s 43,867, which is an excellent turnout for the fourth day of a Test match.
Washington continues to Nathan Lyon. This partnership has lasted for the best part of 14 overs now.
Just one run off it as Boland continues to negotiate the spinners with relative ease.
He’s faced 63 deliveries now.
Meanwhile, the second new ball is now available.
79th over – Akash Deep returns after long layoff
This is a good sign for India! Akash Deep is going to have a bowl.
There was a bit of a concern around his fitness after he came off the ground during the middle session, so let’s see how he goes.
LBW APPEAL! Akash strikes Boland on the pads and it’s given not out, he pleads with Rohit to review it. Rohit deliberates and aggressively throws up the T sign.
Ball tracking shows it’s umpire’s call. India has lost its last review. Rohit’s probably not too mad about that, it means the chances of him batting tonight are almost zero.
After an exciting day of play, this has petered out a bit in the last hour. I think both sides look like they’re happy with a stalemate.
BEATEN! Akash Deep’s horrible luck continues. Another excellent delivery that whizzes past an Australian bat.
78th over – Lyon and Boland continue to score vital runs
FOUR! Lyon with a terrific sweep as Australia continues to frustrate India!
He follows that with another neat little nurdle onto the leg side for a single to move to 22. Partnership is 32 for the last wicket.
Boland works the final ball of the over into the leg side for another single. He moves up to 9.
77th over – Lyon brings up the 200 for Australia
Washington continuing, Lyon on strike.
Rohit calling to get an extra man in under the lid here after two deliveries.
Bumrah is at fine leg doing a bit of an adductor stretch. Wonder if he’ll have another burst.
Lyon unfurls a sweep to Bumrah at deep square leg to bring up Australia’s 200 for the innings. Lead is now at 305.
Just one off that over. We’ve got 20 minutes until stumps, it’s looking unlikely India will bat tonight.
76th over – Tailenders continue to defy India
Jadeja continues to Scott Boland.
I wonder, Australia’s lack of declaration probably tells you they think this pitch is still pretty damn good.
There’s a fear India will run down whatever the total is.
Jadeja rockets through another over at a rate of knots.
75th over – Washington replaces Siraj
We’ve got spin from both ends! I wonder if India’s quietly happy just letting this drift a little right now.
It would be an ugly little period for their top order to have to face Australia’s pacemen with the new ball.
Will Australia declare at all?
Lyon works the first ball to long on for a single.
Washington strays onto Boland’s hips and they run through for another quick single.
A muted LBW appeal as Lyon misses a sweep, but India opts against a review. It looks like Lyon was hit outside the line.
74th over – Jadeja replaces Bumrah
Lyon squirts the first ball into the third man region for a single.
BEATEN! Jadeja spins the final ball of the over past the bat of Boland.
The wait goes on for the final wicket. Partnership up to 24.
Boland has now faced 39 deliveries.
73rd over – Boland brings up the 300-run lead for Australia
Mohammed Siraj continues. This partnership has grown to 18 now and has eaten up significant time Australia could’ve used to have a crack at India’s top order.
Lyon with a confident drive into the off side for a single. He’s looked very solid in this innings with the bat, the old GOAT.
FOUR! Siraj goes short and Boland rocks back and cuts him away for four! That’s the 300 lead up for Australia.
Siraj goes fuller at the stumps and Boland is solid in defence. The master of the MCG is doing it to India with the bat this time.
Siraj comes around the wicket. He’s got a catcher in relatively close on the leg side.
BEATEN! Shorter from Siraj, Boland awkwardly prods at it but plays and misses. Very close to the edge.
Finishes the over with another short one.
72nd over – Bumrah bowls the first over after drinks
Bumrah will bowl the first over after tea to Scott Boland.
The first ball is defended by Boland.
Bumrah runs in again and Boland defends into the leg side.
Bumrah bowls short and down the leg side, left alone by Boland.
YORKER. Great ball from Bumrah. But a great defensive shot from Boland. Slamming the bat down and denying the ball getting through.
A drive from Boland goes to mid-off for no run.
And Boland defends on the back foot to end the over.
A maiden for Bumrah.
71st over – Siraj returns to try break partnership
Rohit has turned to Siraj again. Australia just six runs away from a 300-run lead.
Lyon works Siraj off his hips for a single. Can Australia get to 200? They’re 10 runs away.
This partnership is 17 off 38 deliveries. There are 22 overs remaining in the day. We would lose a few of those to the changeover in between innings of course.
Siraj goes for a good change-up, a short one and it’s awkwardly gloved into the off side by Boland!
RUN OUT CHANCE! Boland hits one into the off side and immediately sets off, Nitish picks it up at point and attempts to throw down the stumps at the striker’s end. A direct hit would have found Lyon well short.
70th over – Boland keeps out Bumrah despite another appeal
Bumrah strays onto Lyon’s pads and he keeps the runs ticking over with another leg bye.
Lyon not looking to shield Boland from Bumrah at all.
LBW APPEAL! Bumrah pleads again with both the umpire and Rohit! Not out, this one looks too high. Struck Boland on middle stump.
Boland does an excellent job of seeing out another over. He’s now faced 20 deliveries. Lyon has faced 25.
69th over – Jadeja continues against tailenders
Jadeja to continue against Nathan Lyon.
CLOSE! Lyon goes for a late cut against Jadeja and extracts a full-length dive from Rohit in the slips, but the ball evades him. They run a single to bring Boland on strike.
Another over safely negotiated by the tailenders, just one off it.
68th over – Aussie tail continues to frustrate India
Bumrah back into the attack and right on the money as he forces Lyon to defend.
Lets hope he’s the one who gets the last wicket here. He thoroughly deserves a five-wicket haul.
Lyon gets off strike courtesy of a leg bye. Boland has four balls to face of this Bumrah over.
LBW APPEAL! It’s a yorker-length delivery that thuds into Boland’s pads, but it’s given not out. That one was sliding down leg comfortably.
Boland is able to get off strike with a leg bye of his own! A diving Rishabh Pant saves it from being more.
Lyon drives one to Nitish at mid-on, he misfields and gifts another run. Frustrating stuff for India.
LBW APPEAL! Bumrah strikes Boland on the pads again. It’s again a not out call. Rohit sends this one upstairs so we’ll have a look.
Ball tracking shows that’s comfortably missing leg stump. THis frustrating stand, now 14 runs, continues.
67th over – Boland and Lyon continue to tick along
Lyon knocks it into the on side and immediately calls for two, Nitish fumbles which makes it a certainty.
A single brings Boland on strike, Jadeja has three balls at him now.
Boland knocks one into the leg side and runs a quick single. Siraj picks up the ball and scores a direct hit, and they run another run after the ball ricochets away from two fielders. Lead is up to 289.
Jadeja beats Boland’s bat with the last ball of the over.
The last-wicket stand is now up to 11 runs.
66th over – Siraj drops a chance to end Australia’s innings
Siraj to continue. Nathan Lyon is on strike.
DROPPED! Siraj drops the return catch! Lyon tries to drive on the up and it’s a relatively easy chance but Siraj spills it on his follow through.
That’s India’s fifth drop of the day would you believe? Jaiswal has three of them.
Play and a miss! Lyon throwing the kitchen sink now, goes for a full-blooded drive from one that’s full and wide from Siraj and misses it by a mile.
LBW APPEAL! Siraj strikes Lyon on the pad and is the only one appealing. Rohit comes up and asks him about it and he convinces his skipper to review it.
India doesn’t look confident, everyone is remaining in their fielding positions. Ball tracking shows it would have missed leg stump.
Lovely drive through the offside from Lyon! A big chase to the boundary from Jaiswal saves a run as Lyon and Boland run three.
Five handy runs off that over. Australia’s lead swells to 284.
65th over – Boland keeps Jadeja out after Cummins wicket
Jadeja back into the attack replacing Bumrah.
After removing Cummins with the first ball, it’s Scott Boland who has to face the music from the left-armer.
Jadeja bowls a no-ball on the fifth ball of the over.
BEATEN! Gets one to pitch on off stump and spin away from Boland’s defensive prod.
An excellent over from the veteran spinner.