Led by skipper Jasprit Bumrah, India produced a riveting bowling performance in the first innings of the first Test in Perth. Even though the last wicket stand frustrated them, India gained a crucial 46-run lead.
The Indian fast bowlers continued from where they left off on day one. After a phenomenal performance in the third session of the first day, Jasprit Bumrah picked up his fifth wicket early on the second day. He struck on his very first delivery as he had Alex Carey edging to Rishabh Pant.
Harshit Rana didn’t take long to get rid of Nathan Lyon. The debutant got a length ball to rear up as Lyon fended it to Rahul in the cordon. At 79/9, it seemed like Australia would be bowled out well before lunch and might register their lowest score this century and against India.
However, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated India with a stoic last wicket stand. While the runs didn’t flow, they just kept the Indian bowlers at bay.
Early in the partnership, Bumrah created a chance but Pant failed to grab it. Hazlewood got a thick edge but the left-handed wicket-keeper was wrong-footed and the ball went past him. Australia’s score read 83 at that stage.
Starc kept defending and nudging the ball around. His plan was simple. He would face at least four balls in an over before handing over the strike to Hazlewood for one or two balls in the over. India had a couple of slips but they were happy to spread out the field to protect the boundaries. There were a few times that the bowlers went past the edge but the two premier Aussie quicks put on a defiant stand.
Bumrah and Rana had extended their first spells before Mohammed Siraj came into the attack. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy also had his first bowl in Test cricket. Siraj bowled four overs while Reddy sent down three. Washington Sundar also bowled a couple of overs. But none of them could get that last wicket.
Captain Bumrah came back for another spell just before lunch and again beat the bat. However, it was Rana who finally dismissed Starc to end the innings. The latter tried to slog one but got a top edge which was gobbled up by Pant who took a skier. The left-arm pacer was the top-scorer of the innings for Australia with 25.
Hazlewood and Starc played out 110 balls (89 minutes) in that 10th wicket stand and added 25 runs which helped Australia go past the 100-run mark. Starc alone faced 110 deliveries while Hazlewood played 31.
After scoring just 150 in the first innings, India would’ve taken a 46-run lead with both hands at the start of Australia’s innings. Now, the onus is on the batters to put up a better show in the second innings. The pitch is still assisting the fast bowlers and the Test match is moving along quickly. Hence, the Indian batters will have their task cut out. But they are ahead and can dominate proceedings.
