After India‘s bowlers restricted Australia to a mere 104 in the first innings of the first Test in Perth, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stepped up to build on the advantage. The left-right pair displayed smart batting, capitalizing on Australia’s below-par fielding to take India past the 150-run mark.
The duo exuded confidence, with Yashasvi Jaiswal particularly targeting Mitchell Starc. At one point, Jaiswal even taunted Starc, remarking, “It’s coming too slow.” Starc could only respond with a smile.
#YashasviJaiswal didn't hesitate! 😁
"It’s coming too slow!" – words no fast bowler ever wants to hear! 👀
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Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul built an impressive 84-run partnership, giving the visitors a 130-run lead by the end of the second session of the first Test at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.
At the close of the session, India stood strong at 84/0, with Jaiswal unbeaten on 42 and Rahul on 34. The visitors had begun their innings with a 46-run advantage and steadily extended their lead.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul capitalized on poor Australian fielding to take India past 150
The duo started cautiously but gradually increased their scoring rate, shifting to an aggressive approach and putting pressure on the Australian bowlers. Jaiswal and Rahul reached their 50-run partnership in the 15th over, with Rahul taking three runs off right-arm pacer Pat Cummins.
In the following over, the Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian side extended their lead to 100 runs. Earlier in the first session on Day 2 of the Perth Test, Australia resumed at 67/7 with Mitchell Starc (6*) and Alex Carey (19*) at the crease.
Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah struck early, dismissing the in-form Carey for 21 off 31 balls, including three fours. Caught behind by Rishabh Pant, the wicket marked Bumrah’s 11th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, leaving Australia reeling at 70/8.
In the 33rd over, Harshit Rana dismissed Nathan Lyon for just five runs. Lyon misjudged a short delivery and attempted to guide it past third man, but the ball caught his glove and was safely taken by KL Rahul in the slips, leaving Australia at 79/9.
After Lyon’s dismissal, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated the Indian bowlers by building the first meaningful partnership of Australia’s innings. Hazlewood focused on defense, blocking almost every delivery, while Starc occasionally went for big shots.
Their efforts took Australia to the 100-run mark in 45.4 overs. The long wait for a wicket ended after 110 deliveries when Starc lofted the ball into the air, and Rishabh Pant made an easy catch. Starc’s gritty knock of 26 off 112 balls, including two boundaries, finally came to a close.
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