Day 4 Round-up: Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and paceman Mohammed Shami combined to tear through Australia’s top order and bring India within six wickets of victory in the series-opening Test on Sunday. Shaun Marsh was 31 not out and Travis Head on 11, the pair fighting a desperate rearguard action to nudge Australia to 104 for four at stumps on day four, still 219 runs short of their victory target of 323. Australia will need to defy history to chase down the total and survive the wiles of Ashwin on a fifth day pitch. The highest successful run chase was in 1902, when the hosts scored 315 for six to beat England. ((Full Scorecard)).
Follow India-Australia Day 5 updates below –
Perfect conditions for cricket
The sun is shining bright at the venue and the conditions seems to be perfect for cricket in Adelaide. Only time will tell if India will go onto clich an emphatic win or the hosts will keep them at the bay. As things stand, the visitors have their noses ahead in the match.
Welcome to Day 5. A fascinating finale awaits here at the Adelaide Oval 😎 #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/SdUQNRtUCU
— BCCI (@BCCI)December 9, 2018
Perfect day for a run chase 👌 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/N3DMduwWme
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)December 9, 2018
Shaun Marsh key for Aussies
Australia will hope the number four can bring his Sheffield Shield form on day five, having scored an unbeaten 163 as Western Australia chased down 313 in the fourth innings to beat South Australia in the most recent match at the venue.
History against Australia
Australia will need to defy history to chase down the total and survive the wiles of Ashwin on a fifth day pitch. The highest successful run chase was in 1902, when the hosts scored 315 for six to beat England. Since the second World War, no team has bettered West Indies’ 239 for five to defeat Australia by five wickets in 1982.
Hello and welcome
A very warm welcome to the live blog of the fifth day of the first Test between India and Australia in Adelaide. India need just six wickets to win the opening Test of the four-match series. While as for the hosts, they need to keep the visitors as bay for an entire day or score 219 more runs.
Source: HindustanTimes