The fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia in Ahmedabad ended in a draw, helping India to ace the series 2-1.
The hosts dominated the series for the first two matches, but Australia made an excellent comeback in the third Test in Indore. They delivered a fine performance in this match as well, but the Indian team was up to the task this time to hold them to a draw. The series scoreline and Sri Lanka losing to New Zealand subsequently means that both India and Australia have qualified for the World Test Championship final.
Even though this match ended in a draw, there were some great moments and some great individual achievements as well. Usman Khawaja played an excellent knock of 180 in the first innings, whereas youngster Cameron Green also scored his maiden Test century. Green played a fine knock of 114 to build a 208-run stand with Khawaja.
Ravichandran Ashwin delivered yet another fine bowling performance as he claimed figures of 6/91. But the player who really stole the show was Virat Kohli, who played a magnificent knock of 186 to silence his critics. Youngster Shubman Gill also carried his purple patch forward as he played an excellent hand of 128. All-rounder Axar Patel once again proved his worth with the bat as he made 79 to make a 162-run stand with Kohli.
These fine batting efforts helped India to pile up a massive total of 571 in response to Australia’s first innings total of 480. Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy claimed three wickets each, whereas Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Starc also chipped in with a wicket each.
Australia walked in to bat once again on the final day of the match and they made their way to 175/2 before declaring their innings. Travis Head was unlucky to miss out on his century by just 10 runs and Marnus Labuschagne remained unbeaten on 63. Virat Kohli was adjudged the Player of the Match for his fine knock, whereas Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were jointly adjudged as the Players of the Series.
Brief Scores
Australia
1st Innings: 480 All Out (Khawaja 180, Green 114; Ashwin 6/91)
2nd Innings: 175/2d (Head 90, Labuschagne 63*; Patel 1/36)
India
1st innings: 571 All Out (Kohli 186, Gill 128; Murphy 3/113)
Match Drawn. India Win Series 2-1.
