India out for 475, Aust lead by 97 runs

A highly-contentious call from the third umpire helped Australia claim a first-innings lead of 97 runs on day four of the fourth Test against India.

The hosts bowled India out for 475 during Friday’s second session at the SCG, with the tourists resuming at 5-342 and ending their streak of late-innings collapses.

Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha fell in the morning session, but sloppy fielding continued to stymie Australia’s push for victory in the dead rubber.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was dropped on zero by Joe Burns, who was fielding at short leg and misread an edge that was popped up tamely in his direction.

Kumar added 30 runs before Nathan Lyon eventually got his man, out edging to Shane Watson at first slip.

It was a controversial verdict from third umpire Simon Fry, with replays seemingly inconclusive as to whether the ball scraped the pitch en route to Watson.

“You can’t give the batsman out on that, no way,” Brett Lee said while calling the game for the Nine Network.

“You’ve got to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt.

“I feel very sorry for Kumar.”

It was Lyon’s 20th scalp of the four-Test series, his highest tally in a series.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who exchanged terse words with Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris in the second last over of the morning session, was next to go.

Ashwin scored 50 before falling at the end of a magnificent over from Starc, with the offspinner caught behind.

Mohammed Shami lashed 14 runs from one Lyon over, but Harris wrapped up the innings shortly after as Australia took the third new ball.

Brad Haddin claimed a swirling skied edge provided by Umesh Yadav, with the wicketkeeper needing a dive to complete the catch.

Harris had struck in the fifth over of the day, Kohli clipping an unthreatening ball to Chris Rogers at midwicket.

Rogers, unable to field for most of day three at the SCG due to back spasms, snaffled a low catch.

Kohli was out for 147, adding 88 runs after Steve Smith put down a catch at second slip on Thursday.

Kumar did not hurt the hosts on the scoreboard quite as much, but his 65-run stand with Ashwin chewed up 23 overs.

Coach Darren Lehmann admitted Australia would need to do all the running if they are to finish the four-Test series with a third victory.

“We probably have to be pretty aggressive to set something up,” Lehmann said on Thursday.

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