While Virat Kohli top-scored for the visitors, hitting 123 runs, most of the Australian batsmen chipped in with important scores — Usman Khawaja top-scoring with 41 — to help the hosts end the day at 132/4.
Perth: Australia, on the third day of the 2nd Test, fought out the tough phases to put themselves in a strong position. The Australian bowlers first picked up seven wickets for just 111 runs to bowl India out for 283, with ace off-spinner Nathan Lyon picking up five for 67.
While Virat Kohli top-scored for the visitors, hitting 123 runs, most of the Australian batsmen chipped in with important scores — Usman Khawaja top-scoring with 41 — to help the hosts end the day at 132/4.
The day will be remembered by the Australian batsmen for the grind they were put through. Jasprit Bumrah, backed up well by the other Indian bowlers, constantly left the Aussie batsmen at sea with movement and accuracy.
While Khawaja played out more than a hundred deliveries for his 41 not out, Travis Head and Marcus Harris, too, contributed vital cameos to bulge the lead.
Although the Australian openers laid a near-strong foundation, putting on 33 at a decent pace, what helped India claw their way back into the match was the injury to AAron Finch. Mohammed Shami pinged the Aussie opener on the finger and forced the right-hander to retire hurt. Finch has been taken to the hospital with a possible broken finger.
JUST IN. Finch cleared of serious injury.https://t.co/eRI2fOVCSQ pic.twitter.com/4C2WP6kI93
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket)Then, shouldering arms to a delivery that struck the top of off, Harris was out to Bumrah. Shaun Marsh edged a pull to the 'keeper and Ishant Sharma got Peter Handscomb plumb LBW for 13.
Adding 35 off 90 balls, Head and Khawaja steadied the ship but that partnership ended soon with Head hitting Shami straight to Ishant at third man to be dismissed in that manner for the second time in the match.
Khawaja stood firm for the rest of the day to take Australia to 132/4, surviving a dropped catch off Hanuma Vihari.
Earlier, a perfect on-drive took Kohli to a hundred — the 25th of his career. Having got to the milestone in 127 innings, he is now the second-fastest to 25 Test hundreds after Don Bradman. He followed it up with a cover drive oozing in style.
There it is! The King brings up a brilliant hundred in Perth!
LIVE: https://t.co/VEXZiTCSAy pic.twitter.com/tjFNZskT1P
Kohli's mastery meant that India still had a great chance of overhauling Australia's first innings score of 326, even though Australia had already struck twice to remove Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari. Kohli, however, was out caught driving Pat Cummins, with Handscomb taking a low catch.
The Indian skipper's drives were as disciplined as his leaves and respect for the good balls, even if he was far less controlled than he was the previous day. He brought up his hundred off 214 deliveries, making it his second slowest hundred. But what counted was his leadership with the bat when the chips were down.
The fall of his wicket turned the tide back in Australia's favour and the visitors were bowled out for 283.
India will look to wrap up the Australian innings as soon as possible on Day 4 with the visitors' lead already reaching ominous proportions. For that the first session would be crucial.
A well-set Khawaja is out there in the company of his skipper Tim Paine and this is going to be the most crucial partnership for the hosts. The longer they stay, the lesser would be India's chances.
India will, however, take heart from the fact that once they dislodge one among Paine or Khawaja, they will move straight into the Australian tail, though Mitchell Starc can hit a long ball. The lead reads 175 and India can't allow it to cross 250 under any circumstances. With two days still remaining in the match and pitch a lively one, there will be no avoiding an outright result and India should grab the chances early on Day 4 so that they don't have to chase too many in the fourth innings.
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