The Ranchi test is poignantly poised for a thriller. Australia made four hundred and fifty one runs in the first innings and india replied strongly to declare at six hundred and three for the loss of nine wickets. The spinners managed to chip away two wickets of Australia by the end of fourth days play and Warner and Lyon is back in the hut. Australia has made twenty three runs for the loss of two wickets and still trail by one hundred and twenty nine runs. India added two hundred and forty three runs on day four by losing just three wickets.
India warded off Australian attack
Saha and Pujara came with an intention to make sure that India take lead against Australia and they succeeded in their plan. The pair bought calmness to the batting by taking attack to the opposition by dispatching loose deliveries and defending good length balls and the scoring rate was slow due to the dogged line persisted by the Australians. Pujara and Saha were comfortable during their stay at middle though odd ball did some mystery after hitting the rough. India was lucky as Australia missed Starc who was instrumental in creating rough for Lyon to exploit. Pujara went on to make two hundred and two runs and Saha made a well compiled one hundred and seventeen runs.
India gained the upper hand as it had two wicket less sessions in their name on day four and the frustration was creeping in on Australians. They lost the reviews and even after taking new ball did not have any success. The pair added on one hundred and ninety nine runs and was separated when in pursuit of runs. Pujara lost his wicket to Lyon who incidentally took his first wicket after day one of the Bangalore test.
Pujara scored his third double hundred of his career and his second against Australia.
Australia were undone by reviews against India
Saha was out on the first ball bowled by Cummins and he was declared lbw . Saha reviewed it and the review went in favor of Saha as the ball was shown to miss the leg stump by millimeters. Pujara was given leg before to a Lyon delivery close to lunch and the review showed that ball would spin too much and would miss the leg stump.
Saha cut a Steve O’Keefe delivery close to the lunch and the resulting catch was dropped by Australian wicket keeper Wade. Saha was given out once gain to Lyon when he tried to sweep him and was adjudged caught behind. The replays showed no evidence that the bat had indeed touched the ball and Saha was reprieved once again. India enjoyed using DRS for the first time in the series.
India possess the aces now
India after ensuring that Australian team spend two days at the middle, declared their innings at six hundred and three close to the end of day four. There were eight over for Australia to survive and the key everyone was looking for was the extract that Indian spinners can get from this pitch.
Jadega and Ashwin opened the bowling. Jadega was bowling to the rough and Ashwin against it. Jadega bowled over the wicket for Warner and made sure that he hit the rough and he bowled one to it and made sure that the ball turned through the gates of Warner and clipped the off stump. Steve O’Keefe bowled some good deliveries on the rough against Jadega and that made Jadega use that technique against Australia. Jadega went around the wicket for Lyon and bowled a middle stump line and made the ball hit the deck and angle back against the defense of Lyon to hit the top of off stump.
India has made Australia defensive at the end of day four. India can break Australian resistance if they remove Smith and Renshaw early.
