IND vs AUS, 4th Test Day 5 Highlights: India wins series 2-1 to retain Border-Gavaskar trophy

AND THAT IS IT! HANDSHAKES ALL OVER AS THE MATCH IS DEEMED A DRAW.

AUS: 480 & 175/2 (D)

IND: 571

Cheteshwar Pujara replaces Axar, Rohit continues with his experiments. Two part-timers bowling in tandem. Just one from Pujara’s over. The match might be called off soon as there obviously won’t be a result.

Shubman Gill is ready with the ball!! Replaces Jadeja. Quite a bit of turn that from Gill, might be because he pitched it on the rough. Three dots. On the pads and Labuschagne flicks it for a single. Just one from the over

Three maiden overs on the trot and its time for DRINKS

Couple of maidens - One from Axar and another from Jadeja

Jadeja gives away two from his over. Axar to Smith. The ball skidded off the rough, kept low but Smith brings his bat down at the right time to defend it. A couple of runs off the final delivery

Yet another maiden from Jadeja. Just a single from Axar’s over

Axar continues. To the pads of Labuschagne and thats well defended. Two runs from that over

Axar bowls a quick maiden. Jadeja into the attack now, replaces Ashwin. Jadeja goes full, outside off and Smith capitalises and works it behind square for a FOUR

Labuschagne and skipper Smith walk into the midde while Ashwin will bowl the first over of this session. Smith comes down the track and attacks over mid on to score a FOUR and get off the mark.

By the time India came into the second session after lunch, a spot in the World Test Championship final was sealed, with New Zealand pulling off a thriller against New Zealand - the other team in contention for a spot in the WTC final.

In an almost empty stadium, Travis Head batted for 245 minutes, forged a steady partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, and looked set on course for his maiden century before an Axar Patel delivery landed in the rough and crashed into the top of off-stump. While Head looked dejected having missed out on a ton by just ten runs, Axar celebrated his 50 ^th wicket in Tests.

Australia headed to tea at 158-2, with a lead of 67 runs. Labuschagne is unbeaten on 56.

-Shayan Acharya

Axar constantly exploiting the rough, Labuschagne gets beaten on the final delivery before tea. Draw imminent

A rare loose ball from Ashwin, short and wide, Labuschagne rocks back and slashes it through covers for a FOUR

Ashwin follows with a maiden from his side. Axar continues to Smith, tough chance goes down as it takes an outside edge and goes past KS Bharat

Change of bowling, Axar replaces Umesh. WICKET STRAIGHTAWAY! RATTLED THROUGH THE GATE! HEAD WALKS BACK! The ball pitched on the rough and turned, Head tried to defend but the ball went between the bat and pad to clip top of off. Steve Smith is in at four. Wicket maiden

Head b Patel 90 (163b 10x4 2x6)

Ravi Ashwin comes over the wicket for Head, leg slip in place. Attacks the pads to start off, Head hits it deep to Jadeja and picks up a couple. finishes with dot, three from the over

Umesh Yadav continues. Yadav to Labuschagne, FOUR! Again onto the pads, and he clips it for another boundary. He takes a double in the following delivery, w hich takes him past the 15th Test fifty! It also brings up 150 for Australia and it continues to barge on as Indian bowlers could not get any assistance from the pitch. Six runs from this over.

Four runs off Ashwin’s over.

Shami to Labuschagne, FOUR! Too full, onto the legs and Marnus just times it perfectly to pierce the fielder at forward square leg for a boundary. Four runs come from this over.

Jadeja continues. Travis Head slowly moving close to his century. Australia 134 for one after 55.

Shami to Head, FOUR! Pitching outside off and Head plays away from the body and the ball races away for a boundary over extra cover. He moves to eighties as six runs come from this over.

A maiden over for Jadeja.

Mohammed Shami continues from the other end after the small drinks break. After bowling the first three deliveries from round the wicket, Shami tries to create an awkward angle from over the wicket but Travis Head looks comfortable and solid against any plan here as he takes a single off the fifth ball. One run comes from this over.

Ravindra Jadeja gives just a single in his over as it is time for a drinks break.

Shami continues. One leg bye run from the first ball followed by five dot deliveries.

A quiet over from Jadeja as he ends the over with six dot deliveries, but wait, he bowls a no-ball. So seven deliveries bowled in the over, and one run is given.

Another change in bowling, Mohammad Shami comes to replace Axar Patel from the other end. A single off the second delivery by Travis Head brings the 100-run strand for the second wicket with Marnus Labuschagne. Shami to Head, FOUR! Full and wide outside off as Head cuts it late for a boundary. Eight from the over.

Change in bowling, Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack for Ashwin. Gives just a single off his first over of the spell.

Travis Head is in no mood to stop as he hits Axar for a FOUR and moves close to the seventies. Six from Axar’s over.

Travis Head stays bat and goes for an aerial route to hit Ashwin for a six over his head which takes Australia past 100. This is attacking batting from Australia to keep the door closed for India. 16 runs from the last two overs include three boundaries.

Just a single from Ashwin’s over.

Travis Head cuts Axar late to take a single which takes him to his 13th Test fifty. A gritty inning from the Australian opener to put on yet another fight against India.

Travis Head takes a single off the first over before India appeals for stumping. Nothing in review as Labuschagne continues. Ashwin to Labuschagne, FOUR! Short, and wide, dispatched to deep extra-cover for a boundary.

A second maiden in succession, this time from Axar.

A maiden from Ashwin.

Axar gives two runs from his over.

Live action resumes. Ashwin will bowl the first over of this session. A slip, leg slip and a gully for Labuschagne. Sharp turn into Labuschagne, Kohli catches at slip and appeals for a catch but the umpire thinks otherwise as the ball clipped only the pads. Just one from the over

Powered by a brilliant century from Kane Williamson, New Zealand has managed to chase down 285 runs off the final delivery of the match, enabling India to qualify for the WTC final!

Our correspondent Shayan Acharya with an update from the venue:

Australia went into lunch at 73-1, trailing by 18 runs in the first session of the final day at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Travis Head remained unbeaten on 45, joined by Marnus Labuschagne on 22. With hardly any aid for the bowlers from the surface, a draw looms large.

Resuming the day at 3 for 1, Australia lost night-watchman Matthew Kuhnemann early on as he was trapped leg before by Ravichandran Ashwin. But Labuschagne and Head stood firm and ensured there wasn’t any further damage

Kane Williamson stiched a well compiled 100 as New Zealand needs 33 to win with 26 balls remaining. A draw there would put India in the final of WTC against Australia at the Oval in June!

Last over before lunch. Umesh will continue. One from the over, Australia dominated throughout the session even though not many runs were scored. LUNCH BREAK.

Ashwin convinces Rohit to opt for DRS after Head was trapped leg before but it’s wicckets umpire’s call. Head survives. Meanwhile, New Zealand needs 47 runs to win, looks like a draw is on the cards

Umesh comes in to bowl his first over of the day, replaces Jadeja. Umesh attacks Labuschagne’s pads and he flicks it deep for a double. Just two off the over

Jadeja bowls yet another maiden. Axar continues To the pads, Labuschagne flicks it away for a quick double. Three runs from the over

Fuller delivery from Axar and Head pushes it past mid off for a FOUR! Yet another FOUR, short this time from Axar and it takes an edge to run past third man to the boundary and that brings up the 50 partnership between the two

Jadeja to Labuschagne, outside off and he punches it through covers for a double. Labuschagne decides to leave it but the ball passes too close to comfort. Three from the over

Aussie batters are treading dangerously as they are constantly getting beaten. From the looks of it, Australia is going for a draw.

Following a one run over from Axar, Jadeja replaces Ashwin. Two runs from the over

Head comes down the track and smokes it over Ashwin’s head for a SIX to bring up Australia’s 50.

Just two from Jadeja’s over. Good news for Indian fans meanwhile as New Zealand is going for the win against Sri Lanka. The Kiwis now need 108 runs to win with seven wickets in hand. SL would’ve had a better shot at winning the game if not for the rain that took 37 overs off the game!

Ashwin extracted quite a bit of turn as Head is trapped leg before on back foot, huge appeal but looked like the ball went on to miss leg stump. Ashwin continues to rattle Head, this time he’s beaten on the front foot. Maiden over

Head picks the gap on the offside and welcomes Jadeja with a FOUR. Five runs from the over

Live action resumes. Straight delivery from Ashwin, Labuschagne comes down the track and takes the ariel rout to dispatch it for a FOUR.

Too short and wide from Jadeja, Head crunches it through extra covers for a FOUR! Jadeja is hitting the rough constantly, Labuschagne tries to defend, it takes an inside edge but falls safe. Time for DRINKS

Axar replaces Jadeja. Short and tight, takes an inside edge off Head but falls safe! Maiden to start

Jadeja too, bowls a maiden. Two slips in place for Head as Ashwin continues. Labuschagne advances down the track, puts his feet to good use and lofts it for a FOUR. Five from the over

Three maidens on the trot from Ashwin. Australian batter are cautious not to lose any wickets even if it means restricted run flow. A draw here for India might be tricky if Sri Lanka manages to win in New Zealand!

Following a maiden from Ashwin , Ravi Jadeja is asked to bowl. He replaces Shami. Outside off, Head plays a cover drive but a dive from Pujara stops it from running away for a boundary. Just one from the over

Shami to Labuschagne, hint of swing and the ball zips past the batter, SO CLOSE! Labuschagne looks troubled. To the pads and flicked away for a comfortable three

Slightly outside off, Head tries a back foot defense but misses as the ball goes agonisingly close to the bat, he survives. Three from the over. Ashwin follows up with a maiden

Kuhnemann tries to defend but is trapped leg before, huge shout from the Indians and Nitin Menon had no hesitation to raise his hands. Ooh! replay shows the ball indeed missed the leg stump! KUHNEMANN DEPARTS! Marnus Labuschagne is in at three. Maiden wicket

Kuhnemann lbw b Ashwin 6 (35b 1x4)

Single off the final delivery and Kuhnemann will retain strike

If India concedes a 2-2 (unlikely) or 2-1 finish to Australia, it can finish with a maximum of 127 points and a PCT of 58.79 (a draw in this match).

In such a scenario, Sri Lanka can pip India and join Australia in the final if it beats New Zealand 2-0 and finish with a 61.11 PCT.

Just one run from Ashwin’s over. Meanwhile, New Zealand is three down for 111 chasing 285 against Sri Lanka. If the Kiwis win or the match ends in a draw, India will qualify for the WTC final!

Shami comes over the wicket and bowls to Head’s pads, he flicks it square to collect a FOUR. Defends the final delivery, four from the over

Travis Head and Matthew Kuhnemann walk into the middle while Ravi Ashwin wll bowl the first over. Dot to start off with. Front foot defense that takes an outside edge and runs away towards the boundary, Axar chases it and thought he saved it but replay showed his toe was on the line when in contact with the ball, FOUR. Five from the over.

News from the venue is that Shreyas Iyer will take no further part in this Test and a specialist opinion will be sought.

After a forgettable outing with the ball - one for 94 - Kuhnemann survived tricky six overs with the willow and was dropped once before Australia ended the fourth day’s play at three for no loss. Check out the full story here - READ

While it is learnt that Kohli felt slightly feverish after the third day’s play, neither the Indian team management nor Axar Patel, who forged a 162-run stand with Kohli in 216 balls, confirmed. Check out the full story here - READ

Dinesh Karthik, to the broadcasters: The pitch looks interesting, there is some powdery surface, and it still looks pretty good, but there are some spots where the ball could turn, some could stay low as well and could bring Ashwin into play. For the left-arm bowler, there is plenty of rough, spinners will have a role to play.