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Head, Labuschagne defy India as draw looms in fourth Test / Photo: © AFP
Head, Labuschagne defy India as draw looms in fourth Test
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne stood firm to reduce Australia's second innings deficit to 18 as India raced against time for an unlikely win on day five of the fourth Test on Monday.
Australia reached 73-1 at lunch at the world's biggest cricket stadium at Ahmedabad, with Head on 45 and Labuschagne on 22.
Australia lost nightwatchman Matthew Kuhnemann for six off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Indian spinners got some turn on the final-day track and beat the bat of the batsmen on a few occasions but Head and Labuschagne stayed calm with occasional boundaries.
Head took on the opposition spinners with five fours and the team's only six in the match so far as he smashed Ashwin back over his head.
Regular opener Usman Khawaja was yet to bat with "a lower leg soreness" after getting hurt while fielding on day four.
India, who lead 2-1 and need a win or draw to clinch the four-match series, rode on Virat Kohli's epic 186 to post 571 all out on day four and build a lead of 91 against Australia's 480 in the first innings.
Kohli was the last man out after Shreyas Iyer did not bat due to lower back pain and the team said Monday that he will take no further part in this Test.
A win would secure India a place in the World Test Championship final in June at the Oval.
But a loss or draw keeps Sri Lanka, who are playing in New Zealand, in the hunt as well. Australia have already qualified.
The pitch in the run-filled match has been vastly different from the viciously turning tracks in the opening three Tests, which all ended inside three days.
P.F. da Conceiçao--JDB
