When India went into the final session with eight wickets in hand, somewhere in the mind the Adelaide Test popped up when, from almost a similar position, India succumbed to a defeat by losing eight wickets in the final session.
This, however, was prevented this time around as Ajinkya Rahane went into the shell, as India lost wickets in bunches, and played out the remaining overs with the tail to help India draw the fourth Test in the final session of the match.
India finished their second innings on 252/7 with Rahane (38 not out) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (20 not out) remained unbeaten. The result could have gone in Australia’s favour but Rahane played with grit and determination and prevented further jolts.
Earlier, Australia declared their second innings at an overnight total of 251/6 and gave India a colossal total of 349 to chase on a deteriorating SCG pitch on the fifth day.
Indian openers – Murali Vijay & KL Rahul – provide a solid start and made 48 runs partnership in the first session of the day. Rahul (16) was the first to depart, when Nathan Lyon’s spinning delivery kissed his glove and went to David Warner, standing at backward short leg.
Vijay, meanwhile, showed that his first innings failure was just a minor blip in his amazing form and continued to pile runs. He, along with Rohit Sharma, made a 56-run partnership for the second wicket and ensured no more jolts in the morning session.
Both batsmen took their time in the middle and kept Lyon and company at bay. Rohit was dismissed by Shane Watson when he tried to guide one down to third man. Smith diving to his right took one of the best catches of the series.
Despite losing Rohit, India didn’t lose the way as Vijay and skipper Kohli put stern resistance and the former, meanwhile, completed his half-century just before tea. Vijay targeted Lyon, in particular, and never allowed him to settle down.
With some gritty batting in the first two sessions, India needed 189 runs to win in 33 overs, at run a ball with batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina yet to arrive.
It was deva vu for India in the final session, as just like the Adelaide Test, India lost heap of wickets in the final session. Indian batsmen looked in two minds and lacked clarity of going for a win or playing for a draw.
Murali Vijay was the first to depart in the final session when Josh Hazlewood got the wicket. India hoped for a turnaround from Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, but the former was dismissed by Mitchell Starc, who made the ball reverse swing.
The stage was set for Suresh Raina to make impression but he had a torrid time in the middle and looked clueless at the crease. Starc ended his misery when he trapped Raina lbw for a duck, his second of the match.
The game was slipping away from India’s grasp and the touring party was jolted once again when Lyon got the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha. Saha, who looked vulnerable right from the word go, was also caught in front of the stumps by the Aussie spinner.
