Australia vs. India 2015, 4th Test, Day 4: Highlights, Scorecard and Report
Australia set up a thrilling final day of the series against India, building a lead of 348 runs by stumps after some late hitting from Steven Smith, Joe Burns and Brad Haddin.
The home side wrapped up the India innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground for 475 just before the tea interval, giving them a 97-run advantage.
India struck early in the Australia second innings, but just as it looked as if they might be turning the game back in their favour, a Baggy Green charge meant the hosts will carry the momentum into Day 5.
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They ended the day on 251-6 in just 40 overs, an over short of the scheduled close when rain fell over Sydney.
The key decision will be how much longer they choose to bat on before they send India to the crease, as they push for a 3-0 series victory.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Vijay | c Haddin | b Starc | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Rahul | c and b Starc | 110 | 355 | 262 | |
| Ro Sharma | b Lyon | 53 | 182 | 133 | |
| Kohli | c Rogers | b Harris | 147 | 314 | 230 |
| Rahane | lbw | b Watson | 13 | 55 | 31 |
| Raina | c Haddin | b Watson | 0 | 1 | |
| Saha | c Smith | b Hazlewood | 35 | 130 | 96 |
| Ashwin | c Haddin | b Starc | 50 | 163 | 111 |
| B Kumar | c Watson | b Lyon | 30 | 88 | 75 |
| Shami | not out | 16 | 38 | 26 | |
| U Yadav | c Haddin | b Harris | 4 | 11 | 9 |
| Extras | 5nb 1w 4b 7lb | 17 | |||
| Total | all out (162.0 ovs) | 475 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| Starc | 32.0 | 7 | 106 | 3 | |
| Harris | 31.0 | 7 | 96 | 2 | |
| Hazlewood | 29.0 | 8 | 64 | 1 | |
| Lyon | 46.0 | 11 | 123 | 2 | |
| Watson | 20.0 | 4 | 58 | 2 | |
| Smith | 4.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Australia struck a vital blow early on Day 4, preventing India's prolific skipper Virat Kohli from adding much to his overnight score of 140.
His total had been swelled by just seven runs when he clipped Ryan Harris to midwicket and offered a low catch—not the first time he has been dismissed in that fashion in an otherwise spectacular series.
It meant the tail had to shepherd India past the follow-on total and as close to Australia's first innings as they could.
They succeeded, particularly through the combination of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravi Ashwin, brought together after Wriddhiman Saha had been beaten by a surprise bouncer from Josh Hazlewood.
Their stand was a steady one, rather than explosive, but with India realising that their batting would also be tested in the fourth innings, it also sucked time out of the game.
After lunch, the stand was extended to 65 before Kumar was given out via some assistance from the third umpire, as he was adjudged to have edged a Nathan Lyon delivery behind,
Ashwin managed to notch the fourth half-century of his Test career, but he was then beaten by Mitchell Starc, signalling the last true resistance of the India innings.
| Batsman | Dismissal | Bowler | Runs | Mins | Balls |
| Rogers | c Raina | b B Kumar | 56 | 94 | 77 |
| Warner | c Vijay | b Ashwin | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Watson | b Ashwin | 16 | 16 | 17 | |
| Smith | lbw | b Shami | 71 | 93 | 70 |
| S Marsh | c Vijay | b Ashwin | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Burns | c U Yadav | b Ashwin | 66 | 55 | 39 |
| Haddin | not out | 31 | 36 | 30 | |
| Harris | not out | 0 | 0 | ||
| Extras | 2nb 0w 2b 2lb | 6 | |||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
| B Kumar | 8.0 | 0 | 46 | 1 | |
| Ashwin | 19.0 | 2 | 105 | 4 | |
| Shami | 6.0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| U Yadav | 3.0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| Raina | 4.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Australia refused to let things settle, scoring at 6.27 runs an over for the rest of the day.
India looked to test their hosts with spin, with Ashwin opening the bowling for the tourists, but despite him picking up the early wickets of David Warner and Shane Watson, the charge was never quelled. Kohli's send-off to Warner after his dismissal is likely to be referred to the match officials, especially given Starc's punishment earlier in the Test, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo.
Chris Rogers, playing what he hinted will be his last Test innings in Australia, found an able partner in Smith to score quickly, and they amassed 80 runs in 15 overs together to lay a platform.
The wickets of Rogers, Shaun Marsh and then Smith, who had fired a 70-ball 71 before falling lbw to Mohammed Shami to end his series with 769 runs, appeared to turn the tide India's way. Suddenly, if India were able to knock over the remaining wickets on their own terms, they might have set up an achievable chase on the final day.
It was not to be— Burns played fearlessly, dropping Ashwin over the fence three times with impunity in a 39-ball 66, while Haddin cut the seamers with authority at the other end.
The rest of the Test had been plodding, but this was a 40-over stretch which changed the game while leaving all three results just about possible on Saturday.
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