Jaiswal, Rahul power India to 218-run lead
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian opening batsmen put India in control of the first cricket test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series at the end of the second day of the opening match of the five-Test series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 90 not out and KL Rahul’s unbeaten 62 took India to 172-0 at stumps and extended its lead to 218 runs after Bumrah had taken 5-30 to help bowl out Australia for 104 and secure a 46-run first-innings lead.
India’s only previous test win in Perth came back in 2008 at the WACA Ground.
Jaiswal redeemed himself by setting sight on his fourth test century after being dismissed for naught in the first innings. He twice called for assistance during his 4½ hour innings as he nursed his right arm.
He has faced 193 balls and hit two sixes and seven fours.
When Jaiswal danced down the track and hit offspinner Nathan Lyon for a huge six over long on he surpassed New Zealander Brendon McCullum’s 33 sixes in a calendar year with 34 of his own. Earlier, he had gloriously flicked left-arm swing bowler Mitchell Starc over long leg, too.
Jaiswal and Rahul batted untroubled on a pitch that had claimed 17 wickets on the opening day. The openers weathered the much-vaunted Australian pace attack.
India was dismissed for 150 on the first day after winning the toss and batting.
Starting the second innings after lunch, India comfortably progressed to 81 without loss at the tea break and extended the lead to 130 runs.
The 22-year-old Jaiswal, renowned for his aggressive batting, was more circumspect and grafted his half-century off 123 balls — the slowest among his nine 50s.
Rahul was happy to play second fiddle to his junior partner and brought up his 16th 50 in his 54th test, hitting just four boundaries off 124 balls.
Australia toiled for 57 overs and desperately used seven bowlers to separate the pair, but Jaiswal and Rahul were determined to resume battle on the third day at Perth Stadium.
Australia resumed the day on 67-7 and were dismissed following a rearguard action by Mitchell Starc, who braved over two hours to top score with 26 runs and lifted Australia from a precarious 79-9.
Bumrah, who dismantled the Australian top order on the first day, began the second by dismissing Alex Carey for 21 with his first ball.
It was Bumrah’s 11th five-wicket haul in his 41st test, and so far, he has 37 wickets in eight test matches in Australia at an average of 19.18.
Bumrah, captaining in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who is awaiting the birth of his second child, spearheaded the four-pronged pace attack.
Starc skied paceman Harshit Rana (3-48) after a stubborn 26-run stand that lasted 90 minutes.
Resuming the day, Australia lost two quick wickets in Carey and Nathan Lyon (5). It faced the prospect of being bowled out for its lowest total against its subcontinent opposition before Starc and Hazlewood dug in.
Starc was hit on the helmet when he ducked into a Rana delivery and required attention from the medical and support staff under the concussion rule. Starc and Rana are teammates at Kolkata Knight Riders in the T20 Indian Premier League, and Rana quickly apologized to Starc.
Five overs after Carey fell, Lyon lobbed a catch to Rahul at third slip to give Rana his second wicket on his test debut.
Australia and India are one-two in the World Test Championship standings.