India: 150 (Hazlewood 4-29) & 487-6 dec (Jaiswal 161, Kohli 100*)
Australia: 104 (Bumrah 5-30) & 12-3 (Bumrah 2-1)
Australia trail by 522 runs
Scorecard
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli hit imperious centuries before Jasprit Bumrah took two late wickets as India put themselves in a dominant position against Australia at stumps on day three of the first Test.
Opener Jaiswal’s sublime 161 set the tone for India as he and KL Rahul compiled a record first-wicket stand of 201 for India in Australia.
“Cricket – Border-Gavaskar Trophy –First Test”
That was followed by Kohli’s zen-like unbeaten knock of exactly 100 at Perth’s Optus Stadium as India declared their second innings on 487-6.
Set 534 for victory, a weary Australia were left with an awkward 24 minutes to negotiate before the close.
Rested and refreshed India stand-skipper Bumrah ran in with menace and trapped Nathan McSweeney lbw with the fourth ball of Australia’s response.
Australia captain Pat Cummins then came out as night-watchman and edged Mohammed Siraj to Kohli at second slip.
A fired-up Bumrah struck again in his third over as he had Marnus Labuschagne out lbw, with referral backing up the on-field decision.
With two days left to play there is still time for Australia to either bat out for a draw or chase down a record total to win the match.
The current highest successful fourth-innings total to win a match is the 418-7 made by West Indies against Australia at St John’s in May 2003.
Australia’s highest fourth-innings chase to win a Test was the 404-3 they made at Headingley against England in July 1948.
However, with movement and uneven bounce on the pitch India look well positioned to win the opening match of the five-Test series.
BBC
