New Delhi:
Ishant Sharma picked up 4/41 as India managed to bowl Australia out for 326 on the second day of the Perth Test. In response, Virat Kohli's side started badly as they lost Murali Vijay and KL Rahul cheaply. Cheteshwar Pujara and the skipper weathered the storm well and strung a 74-run stand for the third wicket. However, when Pujara was dismissed by Mitchell Starc for 24, India were still not out of the woods but a brilliant unbeaten partnership of 90 between Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli has tilted the advantage to India's favour. Kohli will be looking to score a century tomorrow while Rahane will be aiming to help India take the lead. (SCORECARD)
Stumps on day 2 of the Perth Test. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane fifties have ensured India are on top against Australia. The final session on day 2 could dictate the way how the Test pans out. India trail by 154 runs.
Rahane hits a magnificent fifty, his 17th in Tests. This partnership with Virat Kohli has put India on course to overhaul Australia's total.
Two consecutive boundaries by Rahane and he nears his fifty. Simply sensational and India continue to dominate.
Australia continue to work hard to get a wicket. Rahane nears his fifty by beautifully caressing the drive off a full ball from Starc to the deep extra cover fence. The partnership has also crossed fifty.
The deficit is now under 200 and Kohli continues to show his class as he drills a straight drive down the ground for yet another boundary.
Rahane takes on the short ball again and the deficit is almost under 200 now.
Umpire Chris Gaffaney has failed to spot two no-balls bowled by Josh Hazlewood. In fact, the bowler has overstepped by a big margin there. Lazy umpiring
Magnificent King Kohli! The Adelaide failure was just a blip. Gets to the landmark by cutting a short ball from Cummins to the third man fence. It is his 20th fifty.
Rahane is taking the attack to the opposition. He upper-cuts a short ball from Pat Cummins to the third man boundary for the first six of the game.
WICKET! Pujara has been strangled down the leg side and the dangerous partnership is broken. Starc is lucky to have gotten the wicket there.
Loud appeal for an LBW but the umpire does not give it out. Paine opts for the review. Cummins traps Pujara with a full ball slanted in and the batsman is hit on the back leg but the ball was going over the stumps. Australia lose the review.
That will be tea on the second day. Kohli and Pujara have displayed their class and have put India in a solid position. They trail by 256 runs.
Australia are keeping the runs tight but Kohli and Pujara have displayed magnificent patience to counter the conditions.
Almost! Nathan Lyon forces an error of judgment from Kohli again. The offspinner gets this ball to break back in and Kohli shoulders arms. The ball just goes over the stumps. It was not too far from hitting the bail. What a close call for Kohli.
The Australian bowlers are bowling a good line and length to Kohli and Pujara. The weather forecast for Perth today is for thunderstorms. One hopes that the rain stays away.
Glorious. Three boundaries by Kohli off Hazlewood and India are slowly rebuilding. They need this partnership to flourish.
Pujara eases the pressure slightly by driving a full ball from Mitchell Starc to the deep extra cover fence. He is rotating the strike also with singles and twos. Great batting.
Kohli gets going with a straight drive off Hazlewood to the long on boundary. This is the clutch period in the game for Australia and India. If Kohli and Pujara hang in, they can get going. A wicket for Australia will truly put them on top.
WICKET! Brilliant ball from Hazlewood and India have lost both openers. Full length, almost yorker length on off stump, it swerves away late in the air and Rahul plays down the wrong line. The ball crashes into off stump. Pujara and Kohli the key now.
Starc and Hazlewood resume after the lunch break. Cheteshwar Pujara holds the key now and one will be hoping KL Rahul finds some form. Pujara was the difference in Adelaide and he could well be the major player in these conditions.
WICKET! Sensational bowling from Mitchell Starc. That is the guy whom the world fears. Pacy 88 mph full length delivery, it swerves back in and Vijay leaves a gap between bat and pad, the ball crashes into middle and off stump and India lose a crucial wicket just before the lunch break.
WICKET! Ishant will be on a hat-trick in the next innings. Hazlewood edges an away swinger and Ishant finishes with 4/41. Australia all out for 326. This is a decent total one feels. Interesting to see how the Australian bowlers respond on this deck.
WICKET! Ishant gets his third. Slight hint of away movement from round the wicket on a fuller length, Starc goes for the slog and the edge flies to Pant who leaps to his left and takes a sharp catch
WICKET! Another one. In the space of three balls. Bumrah traps Paine LBW and the batsman opts for the review. Not a no-ball, no bat and the ball is hitting leg stump. The Australian skipper was on the back foot which undid him and he walks back for a solid 38.
WICKET! Finally, the partnership is broken. Umesh lands this delivery on a fuller length on the off stump channel, it zips through the deck and Cummins plays down the wrong line and the ball pegs the off stump back. Australia 310/7 but one feels Cummins has done the job.
The partnership between Paine and Cummins has gone past fifty for the seventh wicket. This partnership is frustrating India and Virat Kohli is running out of options.
The 300 is up for Australia. It has been a stunning effort once again by the lower order. The bonus for Australia, this time, the top order has also contributed.
Big appeal for an LBW by Ishant against Pat Cummins but the ball was sliding down the leg side. Due to the extra bounce in Perth, the ball would have been going over the leg stump.
Missed run-out chance. Paine taps it to short cover and takes a quick single, Cummins is struggling but Rahul runs in and does not pick up the ball.
A warm welcome to day 2 of the Perth Test. Pat Cummins and Tim Paine continue to bat with application while the likes of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami are trying to break this stand and restrict Australia to under 350.
