Australia vs. India 2014, 2nd Test, Day 4: Highlights, Scorecard, Report
Mitchell Johnson inspired Australia to a four-wicket victory in the second Test against India at the Gabba on Saturday, the fast bowler's four wickets setting up the win which sees the hosts take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
India continued their second innings on 71-1 on Day 4 in Brisbane but collapsed to 224 all out under a barrage from Johnson to leave the Aussies a target of just 128 to win.
Australia made heavy work of their chase but eventually got there, Chris Rogers' 55 the standout contribution, and now simply need not to lose in the next Test in Melbourne to wrap up the series win.
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| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Minutes |
| Vijay | b Starc | 27 | 50 | |
| Dhawan | lbw | b Lyon | 81 | 203 |
| Pujara | c Lyon | b Hazlewood | 43 | 156 |
| Kohli | b Johnson | 1 | 7 | |
| Rahane | c Lyon | b Johnson | 10 | 10 |
| Ro Sharma | c Haddin | b Johnson | 0 | |
| Dhoni | lbw | b Hazlewood | 0 | 3 |
| Ashwin | c Haddin | b Starc | 19 | 35 |
| U Yadav | c Haddin | b Johnson | 30 | 82 |
| Aaron | c Hazlewood | b Lyon | 3 | 9 |
| I Sharma | not out | 1 | 11 | |
| Extras | 2nb 5w 0b 2lb | 9 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| Johnson | 17.3 | 4 | 61 | 4 |
| Hazlewood | 16.0 | 0 | 74 | 2 |
| Starc | 8.0 | 1 | 27 | 2 |
| Watson | 13.0 | 6 | 27 | 0 |
| Lyon | 10.0 | 1 | 33 | 2 |
India's poor day began before a ball was even bowled with the news that Shikhar Dhawan had picked up a wrist injury ahead of play.
It was Virat Kohli who came to the crease with Cheteshwar Pujara to continue the Indian innings, but the No. 4 was sent packing early on as he played a Johnson delivery on to his own stumps.
Ajinkya Rahane was Johnson's next victim as he was caught by Nathan Lyon for 10, Rohit Sharma then falling for a duck two balls later as he edged behind.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Minutes |
| Rogers | c Dhawan | b I Sharma | 55 | 81 |
| Warner | c Dhoni | b I Sharma | 6 | 20 |
| Watson | c Dhoni | b I Sharma | 0 | 9 |
| Smith | run out (U Yadav) | 28 | 75 | |
| S Marsh | c Dhoni | b U Yadav | 17 | 18 |
| Haddin | c Kohli | b U Yadav | 1 | 9 |
| M Marsh | not out | 6 | 9 | |
| Johnson | not out | 2 | 4 | |
| Extras | 6nb 1w 4b 4lb | 15 | Extras | |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| I Sharma | 9.0 | 2 | 38 | 3 |
| U Yadav | 9.0 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| Aaron | 5.1 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
Indian skipper MS Dhoni could not slow his side's collapse as he also returned run-less to the pavilion when Josh Hazlewood trapped him lbw after just two balls to leave the visitors on 87-5.
Ravi Ashwin then fell to Mitchell Starc as he was caught behind—a dubious decision per Indian Cricket Team—and Dhawan returned to the crease in an attempt to save the Indian innings:
The opener did his level best as he scored 81 before being removed by Lyon, Pujara's innings having come to an end on 43 at the hands of Hazlewood.
India were eventually all out for 224 in their second innings to leave a fairly paltry target of 128 for the Aussies after Johnson had torn their middle order to shreds.
Had it not been for a fine display from Rogers, however, India could potentially have claimed victory in a match they so dominated on the opening day, per BBC TMS:
David Warner, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin all fell cheaply while skipper and first-innings centurion Steve Smith was run out on 28 and Shaun Marsh caught behind for 17.
However, the hosts did have Rogers, whose fine 55 came off just 57 balls and set up the Aussie win, per Cricket Australia:
When Rogers was dismissed by Ishant Sharma, Australia were 85-3, and although they stuttered, Mitchell Marsh eventually hit the winning boundary—with Johnson at the other end—to secure the four-wicket victory.
Smith picked up the man-of-the-match award on his debut as captain and praised his side's battling attitude after the victory, per NDTV Sports:
"It is extremely satisfying. Captaincy on first day was extremely tough. The boys were dropping like flies with a couple of injuries. Then our bowlers restricted them. Josh Hazlewood - 5-for on debut and backed it up with a couple in the second. Mitchell Johnson is Mr Reliable. It's always a tough battle to play against India. We have won the key moments.
"
Though 2-0 down, India still have a chance of retaining the Border–Gavaskar Trophy. As the current holders, they simply need a drawn series.
However, they must avoid their all-too-common batting collapses if they are going to win the next two Test matches, the first of which begins on Boxing Day at the MCG.
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