Twitter Reactions: Mohammed Siraj's maiden five-wicket haul highlights Day 4 of Brisbane Test

324 runs. 10 wickets. Rain. These are the factors Australia and India will have in mind on the final day of what has been an excellent Test series. The day will also decide who will lift the prestigious Border Gavaskar Trophy. The result will also clarify the scenarios for both teams to make it to the final of the World Test Championship. But Day 4 of the Gabba Test belonged to Mohammed Siraj who picked his maiden five-wicket haul.

Yes, Australia scored runs at a quick pace to give themselves a good enough chance to win the series. Yes, Steve Smith was once again amongst the runs scoring 55. But the way Mohammed Siraj ran in all day and delivered every time the team needed him to, was commendable and was rewarded for his efforts in the end as well.

It all started with Marnus Labuschagne edging one to the second slip when Australia seemed to be running away with the game. In the same over, Siraj strangled Matthew Wade down the leg-side for a duck to break open the match. In the second session of the day, Steve Smith was threatening after reaching his half-century. Again, the pacer from Hyderabad was at it banging it in the middle of the pitch and extracting awkward bounce to surprise Smith.

The batsman could only edge it to gully where Ajinkya Rahane took an easy catch. Mohammed Siraj then nonchalantly sent back the tailenders Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood before looking up to his late father, in a way, paying a heartfelt tribute to him.

Shardul Thakur impresses again

Amidst Mohammed Siraj’s deadly bowling, Shardul Thakur was also making the ball talk and pick four wickets. He was the one to break the 89-run opening stand with Marcus Harris’ (38) wicket and then scalped the wickets of Tim Paine and Cameron Green both of whom had batted well for their 28 and 37-run knocks. At 196/5, India had a chance to wrap Australia soon but Paine and Green scored runs fast mixing caution with aggression nicely.

And the tail wagged again for a bit with Pat Cummins finally scoring some runs and remaining unbeaten on 28 as Australia got bowled out for 294 even as their innings was halted by rain once. The onus now on India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill and they did well for 11 deliveries before the rain gods made their presence felt again and didn’t let the play resume.

There is a lot of weather around on Day 5 as well but India will have to bat to save or win the Test match as Australia will come out all guns blazing to regain the Border Gavaskar Trophy. All said and done, the day was a memorable one for Mohammed Siraj who led the inexperienced bowling attack from the front and kept India in the game throughout the Test match while Shardul supported him well.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: