Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, 4th Test: Mohammed Siraj claims 5 as rain forces early stumps on Day 4

Australia and India are engaged in a nerving four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, defended by the latter. The final Test in Brisbane has been evenly poised for now, as both teams are putting up a spirited performance. Day 4 has been equally competitive so far.

On a positive note, India managed to finish on Day 4 of the final Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, on Monday. As rain forced early stumps, India is 324 runs behind, while Mohammed Siraj's five-for bundled out Australia for 294.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Australia was bundled out for 369, with Marnus Labuschagne scoring a ton. Meanwhile, India was rattled out of 339, with debutant Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur scoring maiden Test half-centuries.

Resuming at the overnight score of 21, Warner and Marcus Harris's opening pair put up a commendable stand of 89. Meanwhile, the latter was the first to fall for the day, as Thakur made him caught behind by Rishabh Pant for 38.

Just a couple of runs later, Warner departed for 48, as Sundar trapped him leg-before. At the score of 123, Labuschagne fell for 25 off seamer Mohammed Siraj after edging it to Rohit Sharma at the slips.

Along with Labuschagne, Matthew Wade was caught behind for an unfortunate duck off the same bowler, at the same score. It was then the pair of Steve Smith and Cameron Green, who batted out for the rest of the session, as the lunch break kicked in.

The post-lunch session began on a positive note, at 149/4. While Smith scored his 31st Test half-century, it was at the score of 196 when he fell for 55 to Siraj, after a surprise delivery forced him to edge it to skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the slips.

Meanwhile, 31 runs later, all-rounder Cameron Green fell victim to Thakur, for 37, after edging it to Rohit again, in the slips. Simultaneously, at the score of 242, it was skipper Tim Paine, who departed for 27 to the same bowler after a surprising bouncing delivery took the top edge and was brilliantly caught behind by Pant.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc remained unbeaten on two and one, respectively, while predicted rain showered in to force an early tea break.

The post-tea session, at 243/7, saw Australia continue to bat shaky. Four runs later, Starc departed for a mere single by Siraj, after being caught by Navdeep Saini.

While Nathan Lyon tried to do a cameo, he fell for 13 at the score of 274, as he handed a simple catch to Mayank Agarwal at the covers off Thakur. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood was the final man to depart, 20 runs later, as he fell for just nine after handing an easy one to Thakur at third man, off Siraj.

For the Indians, five bowlers were utilised. Siraj and Thakur were the most effective, while three bowlers were successful.

As India came out to bat, openers Rohit and Shubman Gill could bat only for 11 deliveries, before rain forced a break again. It turned out to be the final rain break of the day, as the umpires were compelled to call early stumps.
Brief scores: 369 & 294 (Smith 55; Siraj 5/73, Thakur 4/61) leads India 336 & 4/0 (Rohit 4*; Hazlewood 0/0) by 323 runs.