With that it is time for me to go and entertain a mercurial two year old. Wish me luck. Join us tomorrow for day five to see if India can force a 3-1 series victory… or if Australia can wriggle off the hook. Thanks for your company, goodbye!
Axar Patel scored 79 runs in a fine partnership of 162 with Virat Kohli, it was when those two were at the crease that the spark went out for Australia. The chances of Steve Smith’s side forcing a victory started to slide out of view as the partnership progressed and the very real prospect of having to bat out on day five in order to avoid defeat began to loom in the rear view mirror.
Here’s Axar on that knock:
The way I’m batting, I am happy to be contributing. I am playing my game and backing my strengths. I’m just carrying forward my confidence and the way I was helping the team win matches last year, that’s helping me. I am punishing the bad balls and respecting the good deliveries - the idea was to play as long as possible.
At first we were chasing their score but once we went past it the talk was that if I get a bad ball, I would hit it. Once a batter is set, there isn’t a lot in it for the bowlers. There are a few odd balls that stay low, but once you get set, you get an idea of the wicket and it gets easier.”
