India reached 359-5 at tea on day three of the first test against Australia in Perth on Sunday thanks to opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 161 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 40. The visitors are 405 runs up in the first match of the five-test series after scoring 150 in their first innings and bowled out Australia for 104 on seam.
Australia’s four-wicket second session was a relief after 84 overs in the heat with opener KL Rahul (77) the only casualty. First ball after lunch, Josh Hazlewood hit Devdutt Padikkal on the fifth stump line with a 130 kmph delivery that Steven Smith collected at second slip for 25.
The top-order batsman tickled captain Pat Cummins down the leg side, but Australia’s keeper just got a fingertip to it as it sped away for four. Jaiswal tried too hard against all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, but Smith caught a full-blooded cut at point to end a stunning knock.
Nathan Lyon’s simple stumping of Rishabh Pant (one) was his first wicket of the game. Australia celebrated their third wicket in 18 balls when Cummins trapped Dhruv Jurel lbw for one. Kohli, who deftly hoisted Starc for six before the ball hit a security guard on the head, will aim to expand the lead with 14-run Washington Sundar after tea.
