IND vs AUS Highlights: Australia 3/0 at stumps after sending Kuhnemann to open alongside Head

17:11 (IST)

That brings us to the end of our coverage of the penultimate day of the final Test between India and Australia in Ahmedabad, with the day very much belonging to one Virat Kohli for his magnificent 186!

India would've hoped to bat out the remaining overs of the day and go past the 600-mark, only for the visitors to lose wickets in a heap and get bowled out for 571. Australia, meanwhile, have opted to protect Usman Khawaja by sending tail-ender Matthew Kuhnemann out alongside Travis Head, and will hope the southpaw recovers from the little injury he picked up earlier today and is able to bat Australia to safety tomorrow. India, meanwhile, will be eyeing early wickets tomorrow morning and bowl Australia out under 150 for them to have a shot at a 3-1 series scoreline.

On behalf of my colleagues at Firstpost, this is Amit signing off, bidding you all goodbye!

17:05 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

After 6 overs,Australia 3/0 ( Matthew Kuhnemann 0 , Travis Head 3)

Stumps on Day 4: Mohammed Shami bowls out the final over of the day, with Kuhnemann surviving a second close call in as many overs — this time nearly getting caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg. Australia end the day with a deficit of 88, and will hope Usman Khawaja recovers from his niggle and is able to bat tomorrow as Australia aim to thwart an Indian victory.
 

17:00 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

After 5 overs,Australia 2/0 ( Matthew Kuhnemann 0 , Travis Head 2)

DROPPED! Keeper Bharat misses out on a chance to effect an early dismissal as Kuhnemann gets an outside edge while facing a carrom ball from Ashwin. One more over to go after this one.

16:52 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

After 2 overs,Australia 1/0 ( Matthew Kuhnemann 0 , Travis Head 1)

Not only does Kuhnemann walk out to open alongside Head in the capacity of a nightwatchman, he also takes first strike, seeing off the first over as Ashwin starts off with a maiden. Head then collects a single off Jadeja in the following over to open Australia’s account in their second essay.

16:48 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

The players are back on the ground a little over 10 minutes after the end of the Indian innings and, surprise, surprise, it's No 11 Matthew Kuhnemann walking out alongside Travis Head. Looks like Usman Khawaja hasn't fully recovered from the little niggle that he picked up while trying to prevent Axar from scoring a six earlier today.

The aim for the Aussies will be to bat out the remaining overs without losing their wicket. Ravichandran Ashwin to open the bowling for the Indians, and we'll probably see Ravindra Jadeja operating from the other end.

16:43 (IST)

Missed out by a whisker

Had Kohli scored 14 more runs in this innings, he would have been the first player to complete double hundreds against seven different opponents. Australia remains the only side against whom he is yet to score a 200. (Yet to play against Pak, Zim, Afg & Ire).— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 12, 2023

16:43 (IST)

Some debut series for the young offie!

Todd Murphy can tell his grandkids he got Virat Kohli out four times in his debut series. He doesn't have to tell them for how many runs this time though!#INDvAUS— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) March 12, 2023

16:42 (IST)

Getting close to the Master, is VK

Most 150+ scores in India

12 - Sachin Tendulkar
11 - Virat Kohli*
11 - Rohit Sharma
9 - Virender Sehwag#ViratKohli | #INDvAUS— Cricbaba (@thecricbaba) March 12, 2023

16:39 (IST)

Greatness acknowledges greatness

Nice gesture from Smith, the masters of modern Era. pic.twitter.com/x9QNuADpuR— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023

16:35 (IST)

After 178.5 overs,India 571/10 ( Mohammad Shami 0 , )

OUT! India lose their last four wickets in a flurry, with Virat Kohli the last Indian batter to fall! Goes for a wild slog sweep towards deep midwicket and doesn't time it well enough to clear the fence.

Marnus Labuschagne settles beneath the ball and completes the catch safely as Todd Murphy grabs the final wicket. Shreyas Iyer, who had been sent for scans after complaining of lower back issues, fails to show up.

Kohli c Labuschagne b Murphy 186(364)

16:25 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

OUT! India have now lost two wickets in as many overs, with Umesh Yadav now getting run out at the non-striker's end after responding to Virat Kohli's call for a second run! Superb work by Peter Handscomb, who catches Umesh short with a direct hit. IND 569/7

Yadav run out (Handscomb) 0(0)

16:23 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

OUT! Ashwin perishes while looking to smash Lyon over the midwicket fence, getting caught by Kuhnemann standing in front of the the boundary rope! And for the first time in this innings, we have a partnership that has not gone past the 50-mark! IND 568/7

Ashwin c Kuhnemann b Lyon 7(12)

16:21 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

FOUR! Ashwin leans into the full delivery from Lyon outside off and produces a crisp cover drive to collect his first boundary of the day! IND 568/6

16:11 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 175 overs,India 564/6 ( Virat Kohli 183 , Ravichandran Ashwin 3)

Drinks called on the field for a second time in this session, with Virat Kohli starting to cramp up a bit after having batted for the better part of two days. India, meanwhile, have slowed down a bit after Axar's dismissal, with Ashwin getting off to a sedate start. Kohli's another 17 runs short of what will be a maiden double-hundred against the Aussies. We're into the final hour of the penultimate day and what India choose to do from hereon could have a big impact on the eventual result of the match.

16:04 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

Another 15 overs to be bowled today, with play set to go on for another hour till 5 pm local time. Will India look to bat out the entire hour and put the game beyond Australia's reach? Or declare shortly before stumps and give their attack a few overs?

15:58 (IST)

What a series this has turned out to be for Axar!

The lowest score for which Axar Patel has been dismissed in this series is 74. In comparison, the highest managed by Smith & Labuschagne between them so far in this series is 49.
That kind of a series!!!#INDVAUS— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 12, 2023

15:53 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

BOWLED! Mitchell Starc finally breaks the marathon partnership — India's second-highest for the sixth wicket — as Axar Patel departs after chopping the ball onto the stumps! End of what turned out to be another quality knock from the all-rounder, who has been India's standout player this series! IND 555/6

Axar b Starc 79(113)

15:49 (IST)

The Ahmedabad curators really did prepare a belter!

Runs for the first 16 wickets:
Nagpur 345
Delhi 398
Indore 297
Ahmedabad 1034*— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) March 12, 2023

15:44 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 171 overs,India 551/5 ( Virat Kohli 174 , Axar Patel 78)

SIX! Another mighty hit over the wide long on fence by Axar, smashing a second six off Kuhnemann in as many overs, and the Indians are starting to toy with the Aussies at the moment! Brings up the 150 of the partnership in the process. Smashes another maximum off the same bowler three deliveries later, this time over deep midwicket, bringing up the 550 for India! 13 off the over.

15:41 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 170 overs,India 538/5 ( Virat Kohli 173 , Axar Patel 66)

FOUR! Axar gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps Murphy towards the midwicket fence to move to 66 at the end of the 170th over Couple of big overs for the Indians, with 19 coming off the last two as India's lead goes past the 50-mark! Kohli, meanwhile, has now brought up his highest score against Australia, going past his 169 in Melbourne in the 2014-15 tour.

15:32 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

SIX! Wonder what Axar had during the drinks interval that has got him going all guns blazing! Takes the aerial route over the wide long and sends the ball into the stands several rows behind the fence. IND 525/5

15:22 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 168 overs,India 519/5 ( Virat Kohli 169 , Axar Patel 51)

Fifty for Axar Patel — his fourth in Test cricket, three of which have come in this series alone! Brings up the milestone with a single off Todd Murphy, consuming 95 deliveries along the way. What's even more special is the fact that he has scored big on his home ground. Drinks brought to the field at the end of the over.

15:16 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 167 overs,India 516/5 ( Virat Kohli 168 , Axar Patel 49)

Kohli rocks back and pulls a slightly short-of-length delivery from Lyon towards the square leg fence! Follows it up with an even sweeter hit down the ground, giving the ball just a gentle push and beating the mid off fielder comfortably. He moves to 168 at the end of the over.

15:12 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 166 overs,India 508/5 ( Virat Kohli 160 , Axar Patel 49)

FOUR! Kohli gets a thick outside edge off a full toss from Green, the ball then beating a diving Carey and running away to the third man fence for a boundary — Kohli's 13th of this innings. VK collects a single off the following delivery to keep the strike and move to 160.

15:00 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 164 overs,India 500/5 ( Virat Kohli 154 , Axar Patel 47)

FOUR! FOUR! Kohli takes a couple of steps down the ground and stretches his arms to drive a wide delivery from Green through the extra cover region, bringing up the 100 partnership with Axar in the process! Collects a boundary the very next ball to bring up his 150! Collects a single off the next ball to bring up the 500 for the hosts.

14:57 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 163 overs,India 491/5 ( Virat Kohli 145 , Axar Patel 47)

Close shave for Axar after he gets a thick outside edge off Lyon, with the ball bursting through Steve Smith's outstretched right hand and allowing the all-rounder to come back for a second. Axar collects another brace in the following delivery, this time pulling through the midwicket region. Meanwhile, there's variable bounce on offer at Motera with a few of the deliveries staying low, and some getting the extra turn. Something that surely will interest the Indian spinners heading into the final day.

14:52 (IST)

India vs Australia 4th Test LIVE Score

After 162 overs,India 486/5 ( Virat Kohli 144 , Axar Patel 43)

Kohli collects a couple of doubles off Lyon in the senior offie's 60th over, targeting the leg side on both occasions, bringing India level with Australia's first innings total in the process with the hosts having five wickets in hand. Axar then cuts the ball firmly behind point in the following over to put India in the lead with a boundary off Murphy.

14:50 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

FOUR! Axar puts India in the lead with a boundary off Murphy, cutting the ball behind point towards the vacant fence! IND 484/5

14:42 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

After 160 overs,India 476/5 ( Virat Kohli 139 , Axar Patel 38)

Kohli collects a brace first ball after tea, nudging the ball towards fine leg and getting enough time to come back for a second. He gets off strike with a single three balls later. Todd Murphy bowls from the other end, and he bowls five dots on the trot before Kohli collects a single off the last ball to keep the strike, going for an aerial on-drive that nearly offered Cameron Green a low catch at catching midwicket. India narrow the deficit to just four runs now.

14:39 (IST)

IND vs AUS 4th Test LIVE Score

Players are back after tea, and it's Nathan Lyon who has the ball in his hand at the start of the final session of the penultimate day. Virat Kohli's on strike for the first delivery post-tea.

14:16 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 158 overs,India 472/5 ( Virat Kohli 135 , Axar Patel 38)

And it's TEA ON DAY 4! Turned out to be an excellent session for the Indian batters, with 110 runs coming off it for the loss of Srikar Bharat's wicket! Kohli's still going strong, batting on 134 at the moment with Axar on 38, the pair having added 79 so far for the sixth wicket. The hosts have almost eclipsed the Aussie total with five wickets in hand, and they will look to score at an accelerated rate in the evening session.

14:09 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 155 overs,India 462/5 ( Virat Kohli 132 , Axar Patel 35)

Travis Head is brought into the attack for the first time in this Test, replacing Murphy and conceding two singles off his first over. Kuhnemann continues from the other end, with three singles and a brace off his 22nd over. Few minutes to go for tea on Day 4.

13:59 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 153 overs,India 455/5 ( Virat Kohli 128 , Axar Patel 32)

Matthew Kuhnemann brought into the attack in place of Nathan Lyon, who has been a real workhorse today. Axar, meanwhile, brings up the 450 for the hosts with a boundary off Kuhnemann in the left-arm spinner's second over of the new spell, cutting the ball in front of square. He's batting in the 30s right now. The hosts trail by another 25 runs.

13:40 (IST)

A first for the Indian team

This is the first time ever India had 50+ stands for all the first 6 wickets of a Test innings.

74 - Rohit & Gill
113 - Pujara & Gill
58 - Kohli & Gill
64 - Kohli & Jadeja
84 - Kohli & Bharat
50* - Kohli & Patel (so far)#INDvAUS— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 12, 2023

13:39 (IST)

As rare as it can get

Only the third time in test history that the first six partnerships of an innings has passed 50; the tied test at Brisbane in 1960 and Pakistan v Bangladesh 2015 the others.— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket) March 12, 2023

13:39 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

After 149 overs,India 444/5 ( Virat Kohli 125 , Axar Patel 24)

The fifty partnership comes up between Kohli and Axar for the sixth wicket, the latter bringing up the milestone with a brace off Murphy after nudging the ball towards the fine leg region. The pair have consumed 70 deliveries so far. India have had six fifty-plus stands so far in this innings — an achievement as rare as it can get. Meanwhile, Khawaja decides to walk off, appearing to have hurt his knee while trying to prevent the six in the previous over.

13:30 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE Cricket Score

FOUR! This is turning out to be a big over from Murphy, with Kohli producing a lovely roll of the wrists to send the ball scurrying towards the midwicket fence, beating a chasing Khawaja who now appears to be struggling with his fitness. IND 441/5

13:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

SIX! Axar decides to take the aerial route over mid off with an inside out slog off Murphy; Khawaja manages to grab the ball right in front of the boundary, but loses his balance and falls over on the other side of the boundary rope to concede a maximum. AUS 436/5

13:28 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 147 overs,India 430/5 ( Virat Kohli 121 , Axar Patel 14)

FOUR! Kohli has little problem driving a full toss from Lyon down the ground, collecting his ninth boundary in the process! Follows it up with a brace after nudging the ball towards short fine. India's deficit comes down to 50 now.

13:20 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

FOUR! Kohli gets on the backfoot and swivels one behind square off Murphy, who has replaced Starc after the drinks interval. IND 423/5

13:19 (IST)

The world suddenly is a better place for Indian cricket fans

The world has healed. The trees are green. The flowers have bloomed. The butterflies are hovering over them. The sky seems more blue. The food is tastier. #ViratKohli has scored a test century after more than 3 years. Life is good, happy, beautiful