MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A mini-collapse sparked by a run-out helped Australia stay on top as India reached 164-5 at stumps Friday on the second day of the fourth test of the five-match series.
Australia resumed Friday morning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 311-6 and scored 474, led by Steve Smith’s stylish 140 in front of 85,147 fans.
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Australia's captain Pat Cummins, center, looks on as India's KL Rahul, left, and Yashasvi Jaiswal run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul looks back after edging a ball to Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul hits a boundary during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, and KL Rahul run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul reacts after being hit on a gloves during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Alex Carey, left, Sam Konstas, center, and Marnus Labuschagne walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australian players walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, left, and KL Rahul run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australian players walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Ravindra Jadeja, right, talks to Australia's Nathan Lyon as they walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Virat Kohli walks out before the start of play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins plays a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins plays a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith raises his bat as he celebrates after scoring his century during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins avoids a bouncer from India's Jasprit Bumrah during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
General view of play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith reacts after missing to play a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith acknowledged the crowd as he walked off the field during the lunch break on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
In reply, India recovered from 51-2 to reach 153-2, but then lost three wickets for six runs in dramatic fashion shortly before stumps. The visitors trailed by 310 runs.
India’s first innings started poorly as captain Rohit Sharma (3) spooned an easy catch to mid-on from the bowling of Pat Cummins in the second over. Cummins (2-57) struck again with the last delivery before tea, slicing through the defenses of K.L. Rahul who was bowled for 24.
India recovered through Yashavi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) who steadied India’s innings with a 102-run partnership. Jaiswal was run out after he pushed a ball to mid-on, set off for a risky single, then realized mid-pitch that Kohli had refused to run.
Smith said Australia had staged a “huge” comeback late in the second day’s play to halt India’s momentum, especially when Kohli appeared set for a big score.
“It looks like Jaiswal called ‘yes’, ran, and Virat sent him back. It’s as simple as that,” Smith said. “I was running in, pretty excited. It was a really good partnership.
“To break that one and then to get the two more wickets, it was a huge last hour for us. That was a big play in the context of the day. Virat looked like he was in for a bit of a master class today.”
Recalled India allrounder Washington Sundar, who claimed 1-49 in Australia’s first innings, will be under pressure to contribute with the bat Saturday. Rishabh Pant (6) and Ravindra Jadeja (4) are the not-out batsmen for India, with Sundar next in.
“We looked like we were in a great position to get big runs,” Sundar said. “We’ll still come back and continue to fight tomorrow morning. The energy is very good in the dressing room.”
Pace bowler Scott Boland (2-24) struck in successive overs to remove Kohli caught behind and Akash Deep (0) caught at leg gully as India’s fightback faded.
Resuming Friday on 68, Smith climbed to equal-seventh in test cricket with 34 centuries, reaching his hundred off 167 deliveries with a glorious cover drive to the boundary.
Smith, 35, also scored a century in the third test in Brisbane and is now only 51 runs shy of the 10,000-run milestone.
In the only wicket to fall in the first session Friday, Cummins was caught at deep cover off the bowling of spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-78) at 411-7. Smith shared a 112-run stand with Cummins (49) for Australia’s seventh wicket.
Mitchell Starc (15) and Smith departed in the first two overs after lunch. Smith played a ball from Deep onto his stumps after hitting 13 fours and three sixes from 197 deliveries.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (4-99) claimed four victims to increase his tally for the series to 25 wickets at an amazing average of 13.12.
Following a fiery first day of play, match referee Andy Pycroft fined India’s Kohli 20% of his match fee for making “inappropriate physical contact” with Australia opener Sam Konstas, who scored 60 on debut. Kohli also received one demerit point.
The five-match series is level at 1-1 after a rainy draw at Brisbane, The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Australia's captain Pat Cummins, center, looks on as India's KL Rahul, left, and Yashasvi Jaiswal run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul looks back after edging a ball to Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul hits a boundary during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, right, and KL Rahul run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's KL Rahul reacts after being hit on a gloves during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Alex Carey, left, Sam Konstas, center, and Marnus Labuschagne walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australian players walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, left, and KL Rahul run between the wickets to score during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australian players walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Ravindra Jadeja, right, talks to Australia's Nathan Lyon as they walk off the field on the end of play of the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
India's Virat Kohli walks out before the start of play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins plays a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins plays a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith raises his bat as he celebrates after scoring his century during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins avoids a bouncer from India's Jasprit Bumrah during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
General view of play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's captain Pat Cummins bats during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith reacts after missing to play a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Australia's Steve Smith acknowledged the crowd as he walked off the field during the lunch break on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
