India got closer to a historic win against Australia in the Melbourne Test as the hosts were trailing by 141 runs for the loss of eight wickets by the end of the fourth day.
The Australians continued to struggle against the Indian bowlers on the fourth day. Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami scalped wickets at regular intervals. India has a day to take the remaining two Australian wickets to claim victory, though rain is forecast for Sunday.
Ravindra Jadeja claimed three wickets for India, while Shami and Bumrah claimed two each. For Australia, Pat Cummins carried over his bowling form to his batting, remaining unbeaten on 61. Cummins is batting with spinner Nathan Lyon (6 not out), with whom he added 43 runs.
Earlier in the day, India had batted 52 minutes and extended their second innings from the overnight score of 54-5 even as threat of rain loomed large. India declared their second innings at 106 for eight, setting the hosts an improbable victory target of 399.
Play started on time and India were batting with a plan to reach the 400-lead mark as quickly as possible.
Mayank Agarwal (42) opened up with a couple of sixes off Nathan Lyon (0-40) and made intentions clear, but was bowled off Cummins before he could get a second half-century in his maiden Test.
Rishabh Pant (33) and Ravindra Jadeja (5) threw their bats around to add 17 runs. They didn't waste time in farming the strike.
Cummins returned to pick up his sixth wicket when Jadeja gloved a catch to gully, beating his previous best figures of 6-79 against South Africa back in 2011.
India declared with Pant's dismissal in the 38th over.
Needing to bat five-and-half sessions to save the match, Australia didn't get off to the best start as Aaron Finch (3) edged Bumrah to second slip in the second over.
Mayank Agarwal couldn't latch on to a tough chance at short leg off Khawaja three balls later, otherwise it would have been an even poorer start.
The batsman then added 27 runs for the second wicket with Marcus Harris (13). The duo checked their shot selection, even as India wasted a review against Khawaja in Jadeja's first over.
The spinner struck in the 10th over though as a bat-pad chance got stuck under Agarwal's arm at short leg and Harris had to walk back, causing further trouble for Australia.
Post-lunch, Usman Khawaja (33) and Shaun Marsh (44) came out playing attacking shots and the scoring rate peaked at its highest for the duration of this Test.
The duo added 30 runs for the third wicket as India went on the backfoot a bit, and were waiting for breakthrough to come along.
It did as Mohammed Shami (1-32) trapped Khawaja lbw in the 21st over, but the batsman went for DRS review. It stayed in India's favour as he was too far back in his crease and was out plumb.
Shaun Marsh though continued to play his aggressive strokes and added 51 runs with brother Mitchell Marsh (10), as Australia crossed 100 in the 37th over.
Looking good for a tall score, Shaun Marsh was unlucky to be given out lbw against Jasprit Bumrah (2-22) in the 33rd over. He went for DRS review as well and the ball was shown clipping the stumps only marginally, thus out on umpire's call.
Mitchell Marsh looked to attack Ravindra Jadeja (2-63) but it didn't work as Australia lost a third wicket in this session. He mishit the ball straight to Virat Kohli at extra cover in a bid to clear the ropes.
Australian skipper Tim Paine (26) and Mitchell Starc (18) both got starts, but couldn't build on it.
