Australia toil as India take charge in Perth
Cricket
Starc copped blows to the helmet and shoulder in a 112-ball stay
PERTH (Reuters) - India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul wore down Australia's bowlers on Saturday to take their team to 172 without loss at stumps on day two of the first test in Perth, extending the touring side's lead to 218 runs.
The hosts were skittled for 104 in the morning session courtesy of a sublime haul of 5-30 from stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, after India were bowled out for 150 on day one in conditions ideal for seam bowling.
Jaiswal and Rahul ended the day unbeaten on 90 and 62, as the hosts failed to take a wicket in two sessions, a dizzying change of pace from day one when 17 wickets tumbled.
India's opening duo skilfully negotiated the new ball after lunch, defending and working singles with an ease which suggested the pitch had lost its demons.
The shot of the day came in the 13th over when Rahul executed a gloriously timed straight drive past bowler Pat Cummins to the boundary.
Not to be outdone, Jaiswal punished the Australia captain for bowling too short, floating an upper-cut over the wicketkeeper.
The first six came in the final hour, when the 22-year-old Jaiswal lifted Mitchell Starc over fine leg.
The biggest cheer, however, was reserved for the oft-maligned Rahul, who poked Mitchell Marsh to third man to bring up his 16th test fifty.
While Cummins was left searching for answers, and part-timers Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne were unable to provide any, an ever-expansive Jaiswal launched spinner Nathan Lyon for a maximum over long on to put a cherry on the tourists' day.
Earlier, Australia number nine Mitchell Starc scored 26 and was the only batsman to provide any meaningful resistance as Bumrah and Harshit Rana (3-48) took a session to prize out the final three wickets.
Bumrah claimed his 11th test five-wicket haul with his first ball of the day, pitching back-of-a-length and seaming away from Alex Carey (21) who nicked to keeper Rishabh Pant.
Australia were bowled out for 104 on Saturday after fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah picked up his 11th five-wicket haul to help India to a 46-run lead at lunch on day two of the first test in Perth.
Stand-in skipper Bumrah (5-30) set the tone with his first ball of the morning, which pitched back-of-a-length and seamed away from left-hander Alex Carey (21) to keeper Rishabh Pant.
On a mayhem-filled 17-wicket first day, India were bowled out for 150 in two sessions, but Bumrah inspired a magnificent comeback to have Australia reeling at 67-7 by stumps.
Debutant Harshit Rana (3-48) claimed the second wicket of day two, bowling short and fast to tail-ender Nathan Lyon (five) who could only slice the ball as far as KL Rahul at gully.
Overnight batsman Mitchell Starc, who went on to make 26, deprived Bumrah of a career-best haul when he edged between Pant and first slip, then threw caution to the wind slapping Rana to the midwicket fence.
Starc copped blows to the helmet and shoulder in a 112-ball stay, persevering and showing resilient intent that was missing from the recognised batsmen.
The 34-year-old combined for 25 runs with a cautious Josh Hazlewood (seven not out), farming the strike when necessary.
But Rana brought the resistance to an end, rushing top-scorer Starc into a shot that was skied to Pant.
