The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is living up to its reputation as one of the most fiercely contested series in cricket history. The fourth Test in Indore saw Australia’s Nathan Lyon take his 23rd five-wicket haul, leaving India reeling.
Lyon’s performance was nothing short of remarkable, as he took five wickets for just 34 runs in India’s first innings. His spell of bowling was a masterclass in control and accuracy, as he consistently found the right line and length to trouble the Indian batsmen.
The Australian off-spinner was well supported by the rest of the bowling attack, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood taking three wickets each. This meant that India were bowled out for just 189, a total that Australia were able to surpass with relative ease.
The Indian bowlers were unable to replicate the success of their Australian counterparts, as the Australian batsmen put on a solid display. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne both scored centuries, while David Warner and Matthew Wade both made half-centuries.
This meant that Australia declared their innings on a commanding total of 622/7, leaving India with a daunting task of chasing down a huge total.
The Indian batsmen were unable to make any inroads into the Australian total, as they were bowled out for just 336. Lyon was once again the star of the show, taking four wickets for just 70 runs.
This meant that Australia won the match by a huge margin of 285 runs, and took a 2-1 lead in the series. The win was a testament to the quality of the Australian bowling attack, and Lyon’s performance was the standout.
The fifth and final Test of the series will be played in Brisbane, and it promises to be an exciting contest. India will be looking to bounce back and level the series, while Australia will be looking to seal the series win. Whichever way it goes, it is sure to be a thrilling finale to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.