The fourth day of the first Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth saw India tighten their grip on the match. Mohammed Siraj’s fiery spell and Travis Head’s gritty 63 off 72 balls were the standout performances of the first session. Australia went to lunch at 104/5, still needing 430 runs to chase down a monumental target of 534.
Siraj Strikes Early
Resuming at 12/3 overnight, Australia was rocked early as Siraj dismissed Usman Khawaja for just 4 runs, leaving the hosts reeling at 17/4. Australia’s struggles continued as they crawled to 50 runs in 17.3 overs.
Head and Smith Steady the Ship
Travis Head and Steven Smith offered some resistance, putting together a 62-run partnership to stabilize Australia’s innings. However, Siraj broke through again, sending Smith back for 17, reducing the Aussies to 79/5.
Head Leads the Fightback
Travis Head, who has a knack for performing against India, showcased his trademark counterattacking style. His unbeaten 63, laced with seven boundaries, was a testament to his determination as he kept Australia in the hunt.
Siraj was the star of the morning session, finishing with figures of 3/34, further cementing his status as a key player for India.
India’s Commanding Position
India’s dominance in the match began with a modest first-innings total of 150. Rishabh Pant and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy played pivotal roles, adding a crucial 48-run stand for the sixth wicket. Australia, however, fared even worse in their reply, crumbling to 79/9 before a late fightback by Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey took them to 104. Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling charge with figures of 5/30, while debutant Harshit Rana impressed with 3/48.
India’s Massive Second-Innings Total
India’s second innings was a batting masterclass, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal putting on a 201-run opening partnership. Jaiswal continued his fine form, scoring a patient 161 off 297 balls, including 15 fours and three sixes. Contributions from Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy further bolstered India’s total to 487/6, setting a massive target of 534.
Nathan Lyon was the standout bowler for Australia in the second innings, while Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood chipped in with a wicket each.
Final Push for Victory
By the end of Day 3, Australia was already on the back foot at 12/3, with Bumrah and Siraj dismantling their top order. With just five wickets remaining, India is on the verge of a comprehensive victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
