IND vs AUS 4th Test Day 5 LIVE Score: Head, Labuschagne build solid stand, Australia 73/1 at lunch

12:17 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne make their way back to the centre along with the Indian team, who have now officially qualified for the World Test Championship final after New Zealand's thrilling two-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Christchurch. Kane Williamson hits a brilliant 121 not out, guiding the Black Caps home with the match going down to the very last delivery.

Rohit and Co will still be harbouring hopes of pulling a rabbit out of the hat and collecting a 3-1 series victory instead of 2-1.

11:40 (IST)

Desperately searching for the cracks

Both team’s coaches having a relook on the pitch now. pic.twitter.com/P6E0QGTJPi— Vimal कुमार (@Vimalwa) March 13, 2023

11:34 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 36 overs,Australia 73/1 ( Travis Head 45 , Marnus Labuschagne 22)

LUNCH ON DAY 5

Ashwin confidently shouts for a leg-before after the ball straightens a bit after pitching between middle and leg and hits Head on the front pad, with skipper Rohit making the 'T' sign after umpire Nitin Menon turns it down. HawkEye shows the ball to be clipping leg, allowing the Indians to retain their review.

Umesh Yadav then sends down the final over of the session as Australia head to lunch on 73/1, trailing by another 18 runs. The opening session has well and truly belonged to the visitors, with Head and Labuschagne both appearing well set, and the Motera track still appearing helpful to the batters.

11:25 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

After 34 overs,Australia 70/1 ( Travis Head 43 , Marnus Labuschagne 21)

Umesh Yadav returns for a quick spell before lunch, replacing Jadeja. Starts off with five consecutive dots before Head clips the ball behind square leg to collect a brace. Another 10 minutes to go for lunch on the final day.

11:12 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

FOUR! FOUR! Head collects consecutive boundaries off Axar, guiding the ball towards the vacant long on fence before nicking the ball behind square towards the third man fence to move to 40, and bring up the fifty partnership with Labuschagne for the second wicket! AUS 65/1

11:09 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 30 overs,Australia 57/1 ( Travis Head 32 , Marnus Labuschagne 19)

Three conceded by Jadeja in his ninth over, including a brace to Labuschagne in the fourth delivery after a whip through the midwicket region. Meanwhile in the previous over bowled by Axar, India skipper Rohit decided against going for a review after an appeal for an LBW against Labuschagne. The ball did hit the pad first, but impact was outside off.
 

11:01 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 28 overs,Australia 53/1 ( Travis Head 30 , Marnus Labuschagne 17)

Rohit continues to rotate his spinners, bringing Axar back in for Jadeja in the 27th, followed by a change of ends for Jadeja. Labuschagne collects a brace off the second ball of Jadeja's eighth, but is surprised by the extra bounce in the final ball of the same over, getting a bat-thigh deflection that ultimately lands safely.

10:52 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

SIX! Head skips down the track and smashes the ball straight down the ground towards the sight screen to bring up the 50 for the visitors! Head moves to 30 with that hit. AUS 50/1

10:49 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 25 overs,Australia 44/1 ( Travis Head 24 , Marnus Labuschagne 14)

Big shout by Ashwin for LBW against Head, but the umpire shakes his head this time around. And surely enough, it is missing leg, as was the case with the Kuhnemann dismissal where the nightwatchman decided against (or was advised not to) taking the review. Partnership now worth 28, and is starting to look real solid for the visitors.

10:43 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 23 overs,Australia 42/1 ( Travis Head 23 , Marnus Labuschagne 13)

India abandon the left-arm-spin-from-both-ends plan with Ashwin returning to the attack after a short breather, replacing Axar. Both Labuschagne collect a boundary each in the last two overs; while Labuschagne lofts the ball over midwicket, Head gets down on one knee and plays a sumptuous drive off Jadeja. Deficit less than 50 now with nine wickets in hand.

10:31 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 21 overs,Australia 33/1 ( Travis Head 18 , Marnus Labuschagne 9)

Axar Patel is introduced into the attack in the 20th over, with Jadeja replacing Ashwin from the Jio End as Rohit opts for left-arm spin from both ends. While Axar starts off with a maiden, Head smashes Jadeja for a boundary towards deep extra cover to move to 17. Drinks brought to the field at the end of this over.

10:23 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

FOUR! Labuschagne charges down the track and launches the ball towards the vacant cow corner fence, where the ball bounces a couple of times before going over the boundary rope. AUS 26/1
 

10:22 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

"He will play at some stage," says Murali Kartik on air on the possibility of Usman Khawaja walking out to bat later today. Khawaja has been Australia's standout batter in this series by a fair distance, scoring 180 in Australia's first essay here, and is expected to play a key role in salvaging a draw for his side today.

10:20 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 17 overs,Australia 20/1 ( Travis Head 11 , Marnus Labuschagne 3)

We have the first bowling change of the morning, and it's Jadeja replacing Shami as the hosts switch to spin from both ends. The left-arm spinner, starting off with a slip and a backward short leg, concedes one off his first over of the morning. Consecutive maidens for Ashwin.

10:10 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 14 overs,Australia 20/1 ( Travis Head 11 , Marnus Labuschagne 3)

Labuschagne gets off the mark with a treble, clipping a full delivery from Shami through the square leg region off the final ball of the 14th, getting enough time to come back for a third.

10:04 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 12 overs,Australia 17/1 ( Travis Head 11 , Marnus Labuschagne 0)

Labuschagne joins Head at the centre after Ashwin's dismissal of Kuhnemann, and is yet to get off the mark after facing five deliveries. Head, meanwhile, moves to double figures after collecting a brace and a single off Shami in the 12th over.

10:00 (IST)

Not a very happy sight for the batting team