IND vs AUS 2nd Test, Day 4: Shami 6-fer gives India 287-runs target

Indian speedster M Shami emerged as the life-saver for his squad. Thanks to the discrete bounce with the old ball, the 28-year-old attained two quick wickets for India immediately after the break

The Indian bowling attack tried to throw everything at the Aussies they possibly could, but the batting duo of Khawaja and Paine still managed to hold the innings together.

Before Lunch, the only positive that had come out for Indians was that the bowlers managed to keep the scoring rate low. The Indian squad was in desperate need of wickets to get themselves back in the game and if possible, wrap the Australian batting line-up as quickly as possible.

Undoubtedly, the Aussies with a lead which had bulged over 250 were in a commanding position but the Indian pacers - Shami and Bumrah – were relentless after lunch to make a fighting comeback.

Indian speedster M Shami emerged as the life-saver for his squad. Thanks to the discrete bounce with the old ball, the 28-year-old attained two quick wickets for India immediately after the break.

While skipper Tim Paine edged the quick bouncer all the way through to Kohli at second slip, returning Aaron Finch got dismissed by Shami off the very next ball as he failed to get his glove out of the way in the 79^th over.

Fighter Shami was not done for the day, though he missed a well-deserved hat-trick but this time with the new ball in hand, he took out well-settled Usman Khawaja to pick his 7th wicket and brought the visitors back into the game.

Just in the next over, Bumrah's delivery kept low to rattle Pat Cummins' and collapsed the Australia batting lineup.

Pat Cummins has to go, but we reckon he might be looking forward to having a bowl after these two deliveries!

Watch live via Kayo: https://t.co/mzWOwn19la #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LdqkYFlT3o

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2018

The physio had to come out and check Lyon after a deadly bouncer form Shami pinged Lyon’s helmet. The blow on the head was so venomous that even skipper Kohli showed concern and checked Lyon, who later seemed to be ok.

Nathan Lyon cops a short one from Shami on the grille of the helmet. He gets the all clear from the Doc and is all good to continue batting: https://t.co/mzWOwn19la #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/8b1VJRg7Xg

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2018

However, the blow to the helmet worked for Shami as he dismissed Lyon in the very next ball in the same over (87^th over). With a beautiful 6-fer, Shami attained his career best figures.

For the last wicket, very handy runs were added for Australia by Starc and Hazlewood. The duo smashed some deliveries for boundaries and quick singles. Australia's lead now 287 with this partnership; the tail-enders contributed crucial 36 runs before a stunner form Bumrah knocked knocks Starc’s off stump.   

But the trouble does not end here for India as it won’t be easy for them to bat second as earlier during the day while sometimes the ball bounced steeply, on several occasions it remained too low.

Australia were at 190/4 in their second innings, taking a healthy lead of 233 runs at lunch on the fourth day. The Indian bowlers struggled in the first session as a result both the overnight batsmen continued batting till the lunch.