In the fourth and final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023, India and Australia play each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium with a 2-1 lead after three matches. The captain of Australia, Steve Smith, won the toss and elected to bat first. For the hosts, the equation remains straightforward. For a ticket to the summit WTC clash in June, India must win the series 3-1 and should not rely on Sri Lanka’s away rubber in New Zealand.
It was an excellent start for the Aussies, as Travis Head and Usman Tariq Khawaja opened the innings brilliantly. Travis Head smashed three boundaries off Umesh Yadav in this over as Australia crossed the 50-run mark. The partnership between Head and Usman Tariq Khawaja also reached 50 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin gave India the first breakthrough, taking out Travis Head with 32 runs. Ravindra Jadeja made the catch at mid-on. India gained its first wicket as a result of this.
Mohammed Shami gave India another significant breakthrough by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for just three runs. Labuschagne failed to judge the delivery as the ball went and rattled up the middle and the leg stump. It was good work from Shami as Australia lost their second wicket. India now aims to maintain a similar strategy in the remaining game.
Australia lost two wickets against India on Day 1 of the fourth Test. Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith are standing unbeaten at the crease for Australia. Australia scored just three runs in the last nine overs, a remarkable comeback by India after the first hour. The Aussies stood at 75/2.
Khawaja scored his half-century in the 49th over. With a boundary down to deep third, he could steer Shami away at the last minute with complete control. In this series, he’s the leading scorer.
Earlier in the game –
Unlike the first three Tests, this has been one-way traffic for the bowlers. Although the pitch is drier, it has not misbehaved in any way. As far as spin is concerned, it has been minimal, and there have been no alarms off the surface.
It has been a challenging season for the two batters, but they have kept themselves busy despite the challenge of scoring runs. As a result, India rotated their five bowlers around, was disciplined, and played the waiting game. However, with spinners used to easy picking of wickets, this may be challenging for them, and the two batters will be hoping that they tire out after tea. At tea, the tally for the Aussies stood 149/2, with Khawaja at 65* and Smith at 38* not out
Earlier in the game –
Post tea, Steve Smith was taken out by Ravindra Jadeja, Gujarat’s homeboy. Steve Smith’s excellent knock with Usman Khawaja ended as the captain departed for 38 runs. Now in quick succession for the Indians, Shami got his second wicket for the day at the expense of Handscomb, who he bowled out. Shami delivered the ball perfectly as he struck off the stump successfully. In an attempt to defend it, Handscomb was caught on the back foot but lost—fourth wicket down for the Aussies.
Due to its slower run rate, Australia had to work hard to maintain parity despite being in control for most of the day. In the 82nd over, the Aussies stood 213/ 4. Usman Khawaja looked immovable on 88 off 231. In the last four overs, 37 runs came up for the Aussies as the partnership between Usman Khawaja and Green moved to 64 runs.
All thanks to that new-ball spell, which Cameron Green helped the Aussie’s plunder 54 runs in nine overs, Australia have got their noses ahead on a tightly fought day. India has a lot of hard work. The wicket might not have had a lot of help, but the Indian pacers mostly looked rusty in the opening spell. At the end of day 1, the Aussies stood at 255/4, with both Green unbeaten on 49 off 64 and Usman Khawaja on 104 off 251.
