Australia secures thrilling victory over India in Fourth Test

Australia have one foot in the World Test Championship final next June, after edging out India in a thrilling final day of the fourth Test in Melbourne on Monday.

Day five began with Australia on 9/228 with a lead of 333 runs.

Nathan Lyon (41) fell just 10 balls into the morning session, giving India a target of 339 to win, or a day’s play to bat out for the draw.

The visitors began assuredly, navigating 16 overs of play before captain Rohit Sharma (9) was snaffled off the bowling of Pat Cummins to give Australia their first opening.

KL Rahul (0) was quick to follow his captain, lasting just five deliveries and sending Virat Kohli (5) to the crease.

The 36-year-old could not shake his run of poor form either, falling after just 29 balls to leave India 3/33 with two sessions remaining.

Just as live bookmaker odds were shortening in Australia’s favour, Rishabh Pant (30) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) combined for what seemed like a match-winning partnership.

The pair batted for 32.3 overs together, adding 88 runs as the match seemed headed for a draw.

However, soon after tea, the unlikely Travis Head brought a breakthrough for Australia.

Nabbing Pant in the fifth over of the final session, the floodgates opened.

Ravindra Jadeja (2) followed two overs later, then Nitesh Kumar (1) the next over.

Jaiswal and Washington Sundar (5*) briefly held off the Aussie pacers, but when Jaiswal fell in the 71st over, the end was near.

Akash Deep (7), Jasprit Bumrah (0) and Mohammed Siraj (0) all followed over the next half and hour, with Australia sealing a 184-run win inside the final hour of the match.

“What an amazing Test match, I reckon one of the best I’ve been part of,” reflected captain Pat Cummins after winning the player of the match award.

“All week the crowd has been ridiculous, and it’s been amazing to be part of.”

India’s hopes of making the WTC final now hang by a thread, with South Africa having already qualified and Australia, Sri Lanka and India vying for the remaining spot.

If Australia win the last Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series – starting this Friday in Sydney – they will confirm their place in next June’s final.

Cricket betting sites have the home side as strong favourites heading into the fifth Test, with PlayUp paying $1.72 for Australia to win, compared to India’s $3.10.

Should India win they will remain alive in the race for the WTC final, but will then need Australia to go winless in their two Test series against Sri Lanka later in January.

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