NEW DELHI: A gritty partnership of over 50 runs for the ultimate wicket between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland left India exasperated as Australia prolonged their result in over 300 runs on day 4 of the Boxing Day Take a look at on the Melbourne Cricket Floor.
In a day full of enthralling Take a look at cricket, India bowlers had eliminated Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins in the course of the remaining session, elevating hopes of beginning their chase earlier than stumps.
Nonetheless, Lyon and Boland stood agency, irritating the Indian bowlers with a resilient stand on the iconic MCG. Their partnership not solely defied India but additionally turned the tide of the match.
This marked simply the second occasion in Take a look at historical past the place a 10th-wicket pair batted for over 50 balls in each innings.
The primary occasion occurred in 1961, when Pakistan’s Afaq Hussain and Haseeb Ahsan confronted England in Lahore, lasting 9.2 overs within the first innings and 18.1 overs within the second.
Lyon and Boland batted for 8.Three overs within the first innings and a pivotal 17.four overs within the second.
Drama unfolded late within the day when Lyon was caught within the slip cordon by Jasprit Bumrah over the last over. Nonetheless, replays confirmed it was a no-ball, retaining the partnership intact.
- 10th wicket pairs surviving 50+ balls in partnerships in every innings
- Afaq Hussain and Haseeb Ahsan vs Eng Lahore 1961 (9.2 & 18.1 overs)
- Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland vs Ind Melbourne 2024 (8.3 & 17.four overs)
Earlier, India appeared on the verge of wrapping up the innings when Ravindra Jadeja bowled an outstanding supply, pitching on off stump and turning away to edge Pat Cummins’s bat, dismissing him for a decided 41 off 90 balls. However with the bowlers tiring and the ball softening, Lyon and Boland capitalized on the chance to mount a defiant stand.
India’s desperation confirmed as Siraj dropped a caught-and-bowled likelihood off Lyon and later misplaced their remaining evaluation on an unsuccessful lbw attraction. Boland’s reduce off Siraj introduced up Australia’s 300, whereas Lyon showcased an array of strokes, together with sweeps, lofted photographs, and edges that stored the scoreboard ticking.
Within the day’s remaining moments, KL Rahul’s tumbling leg-assisted catch off Lyon was overturned resulting from Bumrah overstepping. Lyon then edged the final ball for a boundary, mentioning the 50-run partnership and shutting out a outstanding day of Take a look at cricket on a excessive for Australia.
