IND vs AUS: 4th Test, Day 5 – Batting paradise Ahmedabad ensures a draw in final Test
Not much was left to be done on the fifth and final day of the last Test between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After India’s resilience on the fourth day, a draw was on the cards unless the Indian bowlers could pull off a miracle.
India had to win the game to qualify for the World Test Championship final, but as Sri Lanka faced lost to New Zealand in Christchurch, India sealed their spot for the summit clash. As it stands, India and Australia will square off again on June 7 at The Oval.
Australia started Day 5 on a positive note, but Ashwin dismissed nightwatchman Matthew Kuhnemann to bring in Marnus Labuschagne. Usman Khawaja could not participate due to the injury he suffered on the fourth day while fielding. Opening batter Travis Head and Labuschagne stitched a 139-run stand for the third wicket but by then, India qualified for the WTC final.
The two teams hence decided to play the minimum number of overs and draw it instead of taking the game till the last minute to attain the same result. The two captains shook hands after 75 overs were played in the game and Australia finished the innings at 175/2. As a result, India retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy by winning it 2-1, having won the first two games of the four-match series.
Here are the talking points from the game:
1. India qualify for WTC Final
While India had been strategizing ways to defeat Australia on the final day, New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in Christchurch on the final delivery of the game on Day 5. Since Sri Lanka had to win both games against New Zealand to make way to the WTC final, their loss opened doors for India’s qualification.
2. Axar Patel’s breakthrough wicket
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne put up a 139-run stand, thereby crashing India’s hopes of clinching a victory. The bowlers tried hard but could not stop them from scoring runs. Axar Patel finally got the breakthrough by dismissing Head and denying him a century as the opener walked back for 90.
3. Travis Head’s composed knock
Travis Head walked out to bat just before the end of the fourth day and continued dominating with the bat on the fifth day as well. He looked in great touch and managed to get a half-century to keep Australia in a comfortable position. He was patient enough and played at a good tempo and finished with a score of 90(163), missing a well-deserved ton by just 10 runs.
