Lethal Australia do the damage with the second new ball

The Bengaluru pitch played it's part quite remarkably in the 1st session of the 4th day.

Credits : The Indian Express

India, who ended the 3rd day on a high without losing any wickets in the final session of the play, began the 4th day comfortably with Pujara and Rahane on the crease.

Rahane completed his half-century, while Pujara was sensing another century after spending more than 5 hours in the middle.

From 238-4 to 246-8

Australia needed something to put the pressure back on the Indians and the second new ball did exactly that.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ran through the Indian middle order after knocking down 4 wickets in the 3 overs.

Starc started the destruction by first picking Rahane leg before wicket (with the help of DRS) and then on the very next ball Karun Nair on a duck. It looked almost inevitable to fend off Starc with the new ball. He was absolutely lethal.

In the next over, Hazlewood completed his 5-wicket haul by dismissing the set batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and then R. Ashwin. Hazlewood later got Umesh Yadav out on the edge of the circle.

This bowling performance by Aussie seamers shows how India needs to put their foot ahead when they come out to defend the target, whichever they set.

Wriddhiman Saha is showing some resilience after the stumble.

He, with Ishant Sharma, is the last pair on the crease as India still look to add some valuable runs to defend.

India trail by 1-0 in the series.

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