Khawaja, Green tons give visitors 444-run lead; Ashwin joint-highest wicket-taker in Border-Gavaskar trophy

Ahmedabad : Usman Khawaja struck a majestic 180 and Cameron Green smashed his maiden Test hundred to power Australia to a series-high 480 all out on day two of the fourth and final Test against India on Friday.

Khawaja and Green were the bedrock of Australia's innings with a 208-run stand for the fifth wicket, the highest partnership from either side in the bowler-dominated series.

Khawaja's batting masterpiece was spread over 10 hours during which the opener faced 422 balls, the most by an Australian batter in India, hitting 21 fours.

India, who lead the series 2-1, were 36 for no loss in reply with Rohit Sharma (17) and Shubman Gill (18) seeing off the final 10 overs of the day.

The home side trail by 444 runs in the match, which they need to win to seal their place in the final of the World Test Championship against Australia in June.

Earlier, on a flat track where the ball did not really turn and reverse swing did not materialise, Khawaja and Green, who made a fluent 114, piled on the runs in the morning session.

Green showed his growing confidence by hitting Umesh Yadav for three boundaries in an over and brought up his hundred with a four off Ravindra Jadeja.

The beaming all-rounder took off his helmet and soaked in the applause before being hugged by Khawaja.

Ashwin (6-91) finally broke the stand when Green attempted a sweep shot and managed to glove the ball to wicketkeeper KS Bharat.

The seasoned Ashwin tightened the noose further, removing Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc in quick succession and surpassed Anil Kumble’s wicket tally (111) in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 113 scalps and joined Nathan Lyon as the highest wicket-taker.

The batsman was initially adjudged not out but India reviewed the decision which was overturned after replays confirmed the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.

Todd Murphy (41) and Nathan Lyon (34) chipped in with useful cameos before Ashwin wrecked their lower order. Agencies

Ashwin takes 6 but Australia post big total:

SCOREBOARD

Australia: 1st innings (from overnight 255/4)

Usman Khawaja lbw b Patel 180

Cameron Green c Bharat b Ashwin 114

Alex Carey c Patel b Ashwin 0

Mitchell Starc c Iyer b Ashwin 6

Nathan Lyon c Kohli b Ashwin 34

Todd Murphy lbw b Ashwin 41

Matthew Kuhnemann not out 0

Extras: 15; Total: 480-10 (167.2)

FOW:Handscomb (170-4), Green (378-5), Carey (378-6), Starc (387-7), Khawaja (409-8), Murphy (479-9), Lyon (480-10)

Bowling:

Shami 31 3 134 2

Yadav 25 2 105 0

Ashwin 47.2 15 91 6

Jadeja 35 5 89 1

Patel 28 7 47 1

Iyer 1 0 2 0

India: 1st innings

*Rohit Sharma not out 17

Shubman Gill not out 18

Total: 36-0 (10)

Bowling:

Mitchell Starc 3 1 7 0

Cameron Green2 0 11 0

Nathan Lyon 3 0 14 0

Kuhnemann 2 0 3 0

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