Twitter Reactions: India staring down the barrel in Perth

The fourth day of the second Test between Australia and India was a witness to a roller coaster. ride Both teams had the chance of clinching the ascendancy by the end of the fourth day. At the close of play on day 4, the hosts would definitely be the happier side as they need five more wickets to win the encounter and draw level in the series. India, on the contrary, need 175 more runs.

Shami picks up a six-wicket haul  

Skipper Tim Paine and Usman Khawaja started the day with an overnight score of 132/4, most importantly, with a lead of 175 runs. Both batsmen showed immense guts and played out the entire pre-lunch session, stretching the lead to a mammoth 233 runs. However, after the break Mohammed Shami broke the stand, dismissing Tim Paine and Aaron Finch in consecutive deliveries.

Paine managed only 37 runs while Finch couldn’t add to his 25 runs after he retired hurt. To add to the Aussies’ agony, Shami accounted for Khawaja’s wicket after the left-hander played a patient knock of 72 runs. Shami went on to pick up a six-fer after which Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated India with a 36-run stand. In the meantime, Australia were bundled out for 243.

India on the mat   

The target of 287 was always going to be daunting for the visiting team and it didn’t get off to the best of starts. KL Rahul fell for a four-ball duck as Mitchell Starc ripped his stumps apart. Three overs later, Josh Hazlewood got rid of Cheteshwar Pujara and all of a sudden India were 13/2 in the fourth over. The onus was thereafter on Virat Kohli to arrest the team’s slump, but even he faltered.

Nathan Lyon weaved his magic and nipped out the Indian captain for 17. Murali Vijay tried to put his head down and he became Lyon’s second victim after scoring a 67-ball 20. Ajinkya Rahane played positively. Unfortunately, he couldn’t carry on as Hazlewood dismissed him for 30. Hanuma Vihari played out the remaining overs to stay not out on 24. Rishabh Pant is there along with him on nine.

Here is how Twitter reacted after the day’s play

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