Picture courtesy: BCCI
-
- Published: March 12, 2023 17:07
New Delhi: While one may call it a Test match heading toward a draw, still there were a lot of exciting moments and drama on day 4. Virat Kohli scored a mammoth 186 off 364 to take India to 571, along with a quick 79 off 113 by Axar Patel. The 162-run stand between Kohli and Axar was the highlight of the day and with Travis Head and night watchman Matthew Kuhnemann on the crease, Australia is 10/0.
Virat Kohli scored his 75th international and 28th Test century and his knock of 186 also surpassed his previous highest score of 169 against Australia. He played a composed knock as he reached a hundred in 241 balls and scored the next 86 runs in just 123 balls. As he reached his century and India crossed 400, he and Axar Patel went on with aggression and showed sweeps as well as textbook strokes. Virat even played reverse sweeps later in his inning and scored 10 out of 15 boundaries after scoring a century.
After Ravindra Jadeja’s early dismissal, the stage for a big score was laid by Kohli and KS Bharat, who had an 84-run partnership between them. Bharat scored 44 off 88 and also hit Cameron Green’s short deliveries for two sixes.
Axar Patel played a quick knock of 79 off 113, featuring five fours and four sixes. He got out getting an inside edge off Mitchell Starc’s delivery but India had reached 555 by then. Attacking the bowlers, India lost the next three wickets in a span of 16 runs and Shreyas Iyer, who went for scans for back pain, could not come in to bat.
After Umesh Yadav was run out by a direct hit by Handscomb, Virat Kohli got out playing slog sweep to Todd Murphy. While he was lauded for his century as he kissed his necklace in celebration, Steve Smith also came in to greet him after Kohli got out.
Nathan Lyon, bowling 65 overs, picked three wickets, while Murphy also picked three in total. Mitchell Starc and Matthew Kuhnemann picked one wicket each.
The ball is showing a bit of turn as was expected on day 4, but still, there is not much for bowlers to do except for bowling at one line and length with discipline. After a long time, an Indian pitch witnessed a high-scoring game that is heading towards a five-day draw.
