Live Cricket Score India vs Australia 2014-15, 4th Test Day 5: India force draw; Australia take series 2-0

LIVE: India collapse once again

Murali Vijay in action on Day Five © Getty Images

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(Can the Steven Smith-led Australia complete a 3-0 series victory, or can Virat Kohli lead India to a consolation victory in the final Test at Sydney? Catch live cricket scores here)

After a nervous final session wherein India suffered a minor collapse, the tourists managed to draw the fourth and final Test. Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bailed India out of trouble with lot of skills and application, as the match ended in a draw. R Ashwin’s wicket in the 79th over gave India the real scare, and with their tendency of collapsing in short intervals, the dressing room would have been a very tense place. Nevertheless, India earn yet another draw but lose the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2014-15.

Nathan Lyon trapped Wriddhiman Saha in front of the wickets as India suffered a minor collapse at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India had lost six wickets and have only two recognised batsmen left to see off the remaining overs. Virat Kohli was dismissed by Mitchell Starc for 46 as India lost their fourth wicket after crossing the 200-run mark, and in his next over, the left-arm pacer trapped a nervous Suresh Raina in front of the wickets for a duck.

Earlier, Josh Hazlewood provided Austraila the big wicket of Murali Vijay, who was getting close to his second hundred in the series. Vijay batted extremely well for his 80 but failed to convert it into a century.

Murali Vijay went past 450 runs in this Border-Gavaskar series, as he completed his fourth half-century of this tour. He’s been a force for India and his presence at the wicket was a crucial for the tourists. India captain Virat Kohli walked out in the middle after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal. Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the 38th over of the innings, soon after India crossed the 100-run mark. The right-handed batsman played a loose stroke and Steven Smith took a brilliant catch in the slips to end the second-wicket stand between Rohit and Murali Vijay of 56 runs.

India reached 73 for one at lunch on the final day with 276 more runs left to register a win. There were 61 overs left in the day and both the teams would be pushing for a win. Rohit Sharma joined Murali Vijay in the middle after KL Rahul’s dismissal, and he started off slowly as India look to pick up the momentum as well as keep their wickets intact. Earlier at the start of play on Day Five, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul took India off to a flying start as they are showing positive intents early on in their chase of 349 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. But Nathan Lyon broke their flourishing partnership by removing Rahul in the 14th over of the innings. Rahul departed after scoring 16 runs off 40 balls with the help of three boundaries. He added 48 runs with Vijay for the first wicket.

Here’s the final report for the day as the exciting series comes to a thrilling end.

India survive to earn yet another draw in the series. Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar fought hard till the end, and one feels that perhaps taking the new ball wasn’t a good idea at all. Ravichandran Ashwin fell at a wrong time, but Bhuvneshwar did not show any trouble in batting out the remaining overs with Rahane.

Ashwin and Rahane have done a decent job so far. There are 12 more overs left in the game and India will be praying that these two hang around till the end.

Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin hold all hopes for India as there are another 16 overs left in the match. And if they are to win this game, there 135 more runs needed.

There it is! Another one bites the dust as Wriddhiman Saha has been trapped leg-before by Nathan Lyon, as India are collapsing here at the SCG.

OUT! ! W Saha b Lyon 0 (6)

Mitchell Starc is on fire! The left-arm pacer has removed Suresh Raina in only three balls as the Australians are right back on top and eyeing a win here. India in tremendous pressure with Raina getting out on a pair!

OUT! S Raina lbw b Starc 0 (3)

Mitchell Starc has delivered a huge blow to India as their captain Virat Kohli is out after scoring 46, missing out on a half-century. This was after the team just crossed the 200-run mark.

OUT! V Kohli c Watson b Starc 46 (95)

Ajinkya Rahane has walked out to bat after Murali Vijay’s dismissal. Meanwhile, also take a look at this:

It’s Australia v India v the rain… Who wins?! pic.twitter.com/M9rTHJsoRu

— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) January 10, 2015

Josh Hazlewood has just provided them the wicket they were looking for — Murali Vijay is out for 80 as India have lost their third wicket. Vijay added 74 runs with Virat Kohli, and during his innings of 80 he smashed seven fours and two sixes.

OUT! M Vijay c Haddin b Hazlewood 80 (164)

Australia might have been wary of in-form Virat Kohli in the second innings, but it is Murali Vijay who is causing them most harm. Vijay has hit two fours since the play resumed and the Australian bowlers are looking very ordinary as of yet against him. India need another 172 runs.

Australia’s new nemesis, Murali Vijay is once again at it as he has led India’s charge in the second session, wherein they lost only one session and scored 83 runs. India need another 189 runs to win from a minimum of 33 overs. Here’s Nishad Pai Vaidya’s tea report.

India have placed themselves at a very strong position with another 189 runs to required off a minimum of 33 overs. Vijay is batting well, leading India’s charge and Kohli is providing him the apt support. It’s time for tea break.

Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli’s partnership for the third wicket is past 50 runs now as India are looking to score a few quick runs as the second session comes to an end. Meanwhile, with his fourth half-century, Vijay has broken Virender Sehwag’s record of most runs by an Indian opener in Australia in a series.

Most runs in a series by Indian openers in Australia 469* M Vijay in 2014/15 464 V Sehwag in 2003/04 450 S Gavaskar in 1977/78 #AusvInd — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 10, 2015

Vijay has completed his fourth half-century in the series, and has also gone past 450 runs in this series. Fine effort this, from Vijay.

Good from Vijay! Looking to score…Lyon will not want to be scored off there! — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) January 10, 2015

Meanwhile, we just stumbled upon this. Looks awkward!

India Today, this is monumentally lame. And in phenomenally poor taste. Your idea of fun? http://t.co/wZkA0CK4wh pic.twitter.com/wuWiLNBY4q — Karthik Srinivasan (@beastoftraal) January 10, 2015

Murali Vijay is stuck on 47 since a very long time as India aren’t scoring runs at a pace that would suggest that they are looking to chase the Australian target. Virat Kohli too is quiet, seeing off the Australian pacers so far as Lyon comes back into the attack.

Right, being a cricket nuffy now…how good is @imVkohli‘s weight through the ball on striking. SPOT ON! Kids – watch it! — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) January 10, 2015

India need 237 more runs to win from 47 overs as Vijay has been joined by the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

And this is how Rohit Sharma was dismissed:

Can’t stop watching. Won’t stop watching. http://t.co/gf5oOkWupd #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bXFAX8plos — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 10, 2015

Murali Vijay survives a close shout for leg-before in the 39th over. The batsman was lucky as the umpire probably thought the ball was going down the leg:

Not out: http://t.co/gf5oOkWupd #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HHF9zVOcl0 — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 10, 2015

WHAT A CATCH! Rohit Sharma plays a loose shot outside the off-stump to hit a four towards the third-man area, but Steven Smith flew towards his right to take one of the most spectacular catches in this series. India lose their second wicket, Virat Kohli walks in.

OUT! Rohit c S Smith b Watson 39 (90)

WHAT A CATCH! Absolute ripper. http://t.co/eFKgr9uZek #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4eJCIulnq7 — FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) January 10, 2015

It’s all happening. Shaun Marsh has put down a catch to get rid of Murali Vijay and a frustrated Ryan Harris has given four runs overthrows in his follow-through. Harris is livid for some reason. Vijay played a straight stroke back to the bowler, who collected the ball and had a go at the batsman’s wickets. The ball hit the rough patch and bounced over Brad Haddin to race for a four. Steven Smith is not happy at all. India go past the 100-run mark!

India have begun the post lunch session on a confident note with Rohit Sharma dancing down the track to smash Nathan Lyon for his second six in the innings. India need another 265 runs to win.

Time for lunch at Sydney Cricket Ground with India doing well so far. Here’s the lunch report by Nishad Pai Vaidya.

Remember when we thought we could draw in Adelaide because we were 2 wickets down at tea? Yeah the batting collapse looms #AusvInd — Pitch Invasion (@pitchinv) January 10, 2015

It’s time for lunch for the final day in the series and India are strongly placed with Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma at the crease. There is a lot of attention on Rohit as he looked a little fidgety in the start. Vijay has looked comfortable as ever. India need another 276 runs to win from 61 overs with nine wickets in hand.

Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma are batting cautiously in the middle as Australia are continuing with Nathan Lyon. Rohit started off slow, taking his first run on the 21st ball he faced. But he also hit Lyon for a six and a four in an over to shrug off the slow start. India need 285 more runs to win from 65 overs.

6 & 4 – eat some crow, says Rohit Sharma to his detractors! Need 20 such overs though! #INDvsAUS #AUSvsIND — vincentsunder (@vincentsunder) January 10, 2015

India’s strategy is a bit surprising here. They started off slowly, then all of a sudden started scoring runs at a brisk rate. Now, since KL Rahul’s dismissal, they haven’t scored a run in the last five overs.

Nathan Lyon has provided Australia the first breakthrough as he gets KL Rahul caught by David Warner at leg-slip, jolting India at a time when they were just about picking up in their chase. Rohit Sharma is lucky as he survives a close appeal for stumping on the very first ball he faced.

OUT! KL Rahul c Warner b Lyon 16 (40)

India have begun on a cautious note in their chase of 349 on the final day. Both Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are watching the ball carefully, and are in no hurry to score runs. Nathan Lyon into the attack after five overs.

JUST IN: Australia have declared their second innings overnight, which means India now have a target of 349 runs to win the fourth and final Test on Day Five at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of Day Five of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday. I am Devarchit Varma, and I will be bringing you the live updates from the final day of what has been a hard-fought Test series. READ: Day Four report.

Day Four turned out to be an excellent one for batting, with Joe Burns and Steven Smith leading the way for Australia’s stroke-filled second innings. Burns went hammer and tongs en route to a 39-ball 66, with eight fours and three sixes. His fifty was the third fastest by an Australian in Tests as he powered the hosts to an overall lead to 348 runs. READ: Highlights of Day Four.

Smith surprisingly failed to get to three figures, getting out for a breezy 71. Smith, who scored his 10th Test half-century, became the highest run-scorer in an India-Austraila bilateral series. India were buoyed by quick wickets from Ravichandran Ashwin, who dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson early. The off-spinner added two more wickets to his tally to end with four of the six Australian wickets that fell. READ: India win hearts with gutsy display.

India’s tail finally managed to wag as Ashwin scored 50 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scored a gritty 30 before falling to an appalling umpiring decision. India were bowled out for 475 as Australia took a 97-run lead. Resuming the day on 342 for five, India lost Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for 147, early in the first session. He played one from Ryan Harris straight to mid-wicket. Wriddhiman Saha had batted very well as he left the short ones. However, his brave 35-run knock ended when he fended at a short ball and was caught at first slip. READ: Ashwin’s resurgence as an overseas bowler.

However, with the pitch remaining excellent for the batsmen, it is unlikely that Australia will want to declare too early. Umesh Yadav bowled a terrible spell, as he sprayed the ball all over the place and was duly taken apart by the batsmen. READ: Australia hammer India at Sydney to register second-fastest team innings