🏏Australia vs India, 4th Test: Melbourne, 26 - 30 Dec 2024: Day 3 🏏
Smith's 140, late flurry of wickets push India on the back foot
After Australia finished on 474, India fought back with a century stand between Jaiswal and Kohli before they lost three wickets late on the second day
Stumps India 164 for 5 (Jaiswal 82, Kohli 36, Pant 6*, Jadeja 4*, Boland 2-24, Cummins 2-57) trail Australia 474 (Smith 140, Labuschagne 72, Konstas 60, Khawaja 57, Cummins 49, Bumrah 4-99, Jadeja 3-78, Akash Deep 2-94) by 310 runs
Local hero Scott Boland was part of a late surge by Australia on the second day in Melbourne as they took control of the fourth Test after Steven Smith set up an imposing total with his second hundred in consecutive matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli had responded with a century stand but both fell in a dramatic final half-an-hour to leave India with a mountain to climb.
Jaiswal had moved into the 80s when he drove firmly to mid-on and set off for a run to which Kohli didn't respond and there was no way to beat Pat Cummins' throw. Two overs later, Boland found Kohli's outside edge to send the MCG into raptures and, all of a sudden, hope of anything close to parity on first innings looked a long way off.
To cap off Australia's day, Boland had nightwatcher Akash Deep taken at leg gully with minutes remaining as India lost 3 for 6.
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