New Delhi: Yashasvi Jaiswal added yet another feather to his cap with a gritty fifty on Day 5 of the fourth Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Chasing 340 on the last day of the Boxing Day Test, Jaiswal began from where he left in the second innings and slammed his 14th Test half-century.
It was a patient knock by Jaiswal, who is usually aggressive at the top. Jaiswal reached the 50-run mark in 127 balls – the slowest of all his fifties in Test cricket.
It was a knock situation demanded as India had lost three wickets in the first session. Jaiswal combined with Rishabh Pant and batted out the second session to fuel India’s hopes of securing a draw at the MCG. The duo took India to Tea at 112/3 – 228 runs away from the target.
Jaiswal achieves elusive milestone
Jaiswal was unbeaten at 63 while Pant was not out on 28. In the process, Jaiswal notched up the highest score by an Indian in the fourth innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He also became the fifth Indian batter to score twin fifties at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Jaiswal and Pant adopted a cautious approach in the second session and played risk-free cricket. The dup raised India’s hopes of securing a draw with a gutsy stand. In the last session, India need 228 more runs to reach their target of 340 in a minimum of 38 overs. Meanwhile, Australia need seven wickets to take a 2-1 lead into the final Test in Sydney, beginning Friday.
Earlier, Australia could only add six runs to their overnight total and were bowled out for 234. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with sensational figures of 5/57. Bumrah picked up his 13th five-wicket-haul and third of the series as India were set a 340-run target.
The visitors were rocked back with three quick wickets and lost Rohit Sharma (9), KL Rahul (0) and Virat Kohli (5) in the first session.
AUS vs IND: Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his second half-century of the match to raise India’s hopes of a draw in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
