The second Test between Australia and India of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 is being played at the new Optus Perth Stadium, which became the 10th Test venue down under.
Australia started day two at 277/6 with skipper Tim Paine on 16* and Pat Cummins on 11*. Cummins finally fell with his score on 19, clean bowled by Umesh Yadav, after adding 59 runs with Paine. Paine himself followed for 38, LBW by Bumrah.
Then Ishant Sharma cleaned the remaining batsmen to end Australia innings at 326. Ishant ended up with figures of 4/41, while Bumrah, Umesh and Vihari picked two wickets each.
Indian came out with openers Vijay and Rahul (2) shouldering the responsibility of giving India a good start, but both of them disappointed, as Starc accounted for Vijay for a duck, shattering his stumps with a beautiful in-swinger and Hazlewood disturbed Rahul’s furniture with a searing yorker when he was on 6.
Cheteshwar Pujara again stood like a wall and with Kohli for the company, weathered the onslaught of the Australian bowling attack. The duo added 74 runs before Starc (2/42) had Pujara caught behind by Paine for 24 runs off 103 balls. Starc was the best bowler for Australia, picking two wickets and Hazlewood picking one.
Ajinkya Rahane came out all guns blazing for a while but calmed down as he settled in to thwart the Australian bowling. Kohli meanwhile brought up his fifty in 109 balls with 4 fours and added a 90 unbeaten runs partnership with Rahane (51*) for the 4th wicket.
India ended the day two on 172/3 with Kohli unbeaten on 82 and Rahane unbeaten on 51.
BRIEF SCORES:
AUS 326 (M HARRIS 70; I Sharma 4/41) AND IND 172/3 (V Kohli 82*; M STARC 2/42)
Day 2: India trail by 154 runs with 7 wickets in hand
