Boland continues MCG love affair as Australia go 2-1 up in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Dechlan Brennan Published December 30, 2024 at 2.30pm (AWST)

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Scott Boland took 3-39 (16) in Australia's 184-run victory in the fourth Test on Monday. (Image: Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Scott Boland has continued his extraordinary run at the MCG, taking three wickets to help Australia beat India on a pulsating day 5 by 184 runs.

The result sees Australia take a 2-1 lead in the Border-Gavaskar series with one Test match to play.

In front of 74,362 fans - the majority seemingly screaming for the tourists from the vast expanses of the MCG - the Gulidjan fast bowler dismissed Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja with a rising delivery from around the wicket, kissing the edge through to 'keeper Alex Carey.

It was part of an absorbing passage of play when India, safely negotiating Australia's attack in a wicketless middle session in pursuit of an unlikely target of 340, lost 3 for 9 in five chaotic overs.

The MCG specialist then had fast bowler Akash Deep caught at bat pad after a successful review, despite protestations from the young quick, who remonstrated at the veracity of the technology used to overturn umpire Joel Wilson's initial not out decision.

Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian hero of the series with 30 wickets, was Boland's next scalp, nicking low to Steve Smith at first slip, who pouched his 192nd catch in Test cricket.

Complementing his three wickets in the first innings, Boland, along with Captain Pat Cummins (3/28), Mitchell Starc (1/25) and Nathan Lyon (3/28) extracted the Indian batsman with precision and guile, going some way to exercising the demons of the last Indian visit to Australia four years ago.

Australia had to remain patient throughout the day, which stretched into the final hour of a remarkable test match.

After collecting three wickets in the first session, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (30) stymied Australia for more than 30 overs, before Pant holed out to Mitch Marsh at deep midwicket from a Travie Head long hop.

It started a collapse of 7/43, with Boland wreaking havoc before Lyon trapped firebrand quick Mohammed Siraj in front to set off wild celebrations for the hosts.

Earlier in the day, Australia added six to their overnight total, with Boland unbeaten on 15, sharing a final wicket partnership of 61 with Lyon (41).

It left India with 340 to get in just over 90 overs to repeat their Brisbane heroics from 2021.

This time, they were not up to the task.