Star batsman Virat Kohli ended the drought of a Test hundred and stitched a century partnership with Axar Patel as India scored 571 in the first innings to take a 91-run lead on the fourth day of the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia. Australia responded by scoring three runs without losing a wicket in the second innings till the end of the day’s play.
The visiting team sent Matthew Kuhnemann (00 not out) to open the innings along with Travis Head (03 not out). However, Kuhneman was lucky in the fifth over when wicket-keeper Shrikar Bharat failed to catch him off Ravichandran Ashwin. Australia, who scored 480 runs in the first innings, are still behind India by 88 runs.
Kohli, who scored a Test hundred after more than three years, smashed 186 off 364 balls with 15 fours, his highest score against Australia. He also shared 162 for the sixth wicket with Akshar Patel (79), 84 for the fifth wicket with Shrikar Bharat (44) and 64 for the fourth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja (28).
For Australia, Todd Murphy took 113 while Nathan Lyon took three wickets for 151 runs. All of India’s opening six wicket partnerships were of more than 50 runs. Sunday became a memorable day for the nearly 15,000 spectators present at the stadium when Kohli completed his first Test century since November 2019 by playing off-spinner Lyon’s ball for a single at mid-wicket. This is Kohli’s 28th Test century and overall 75th international century. He completed his century in 241 balls.
Kohli scored runs at a fast pace after completing his century. Earlier in the morning session, he did not hit a single boundary. After lunch, he increased the run speed together with Akshar. In the morning session, the Indian team could only add 73 runs despite losing the only wicket in the form of Ravindra Jadeja (28).
Bharat, who has failed with the bat so far in the series, hit Cameron Green for two consecutive sixes after lunch by hooking and pulling. However, he missed out on his maiden half-century when he was caught by Peter Handscomb at short leg off Lyon. He hit two fours and three sixes while facing 88 balls. After the dismissal of Bharat, Kohli completed his century and then played some attractive shots. Akshar also played some good shots. He was lucky off Murphy when Usman Khawaja dropped his catch at long-off and the ball went for six runs.
Indian batsmen showed more speed after the tea break. Akshar got a second life on 43 when captain Steve Smith failed to take his catch in the slips. This time the unfortunate bowler was Lyon. Kohli hit two consecutive fours on Green to complete his 150 off 313 balls and then hit two fours on Lyon as well. Akshar completed his third half-century of the series in 95 balls with a single off Murphy.
Akshar then hit Kuhneman for three sixes in two overs. However, he returned to the pavilion after playing Mitchell Starc’s ball on the wickets. He hit five fours and four sixes in his 113-ball innings. Ashwin too, after scoring seven runs, was caught by Kuhneman at deep mid-wicket in an attempt to play a slog sweep off Lyon.
Umesh Yadav was run out without playing a single ball after falling victim to the accurate target of Handscomb. Handscomb then failed to take a difficult catch by Kohli off Lyon. Kohli was playing on 185 runs at this time. Kohli, however, could not take advantage of this lifeline and returned to the pavilion by catching Marnus Labushen off Murphy’s ball.
Shreyas Iyer did not come out to bat due to the emergence of a groin injury. Jadeja struggled to score runs in the morning session as well and was eventually caught by Murphy at mid-on to Khawaja. Kohli adopted a defensive approach in the morning session which enabled the Australian bowlers to bowl with control on a slow pitch. Bharat played with more confidence on a flat pitch and their defense was also stronger. He played well defensively by putting his feet forward against the spinners. Bharat also hit Lyon for a six with a slog sweep in the morning session.
