Courtesy: BCCI
On Saturday, November 23, the day two of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series firmly belonged to India as they took a lead of 218 with all their 10 wickets in the second innings in hand. After the bowling attack of India bundled out Australians in the morning session, the openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stayed unbeaten in the next two sessions, to stitch together an opening stand of 172 runs while completing their respective fifties.
During the early stages of the morning session on day two, Jasprit Bumrah picked his second five-wicket haul in Australia as he nicked off Alex Carey through to the wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Shortly after, Nathan Lyon was dismissed cheaply, but then Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated the Indian bowling attack for quite some time before their 25-run stand for the final wicket was broken at the stroke of lunch break.
It meant that Australia were bundled out for 104 in response to the visitor’s first innings total of 150, conceding a lead of 46 runs. As the pitch at the Optus Stadium in Perth started to ease out, the Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul still had a tough task to ensure that their team survived the initial burst of some quality fast bowling from the Australian trio of Mitchell Starc, captain Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood with the new ball in their second innings.
Jasiwal found it tough to bat in the first hour of the afternoon session as Rahul looked quite assured at the crease in front of a potent Australian attack. But as the time progressed, the left-handed batter started to hit some crisp strokes while the senior pro continued to occupy the crease at the other, giving the hosts no clear cut chance to get the better of him.
The 100-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jasiwal and KL Rahul was brought up in 229 balls, the first such partnership in 20 years in BGT Tests in Australia. These two batters continued to apply themselves in the middle of the evening session, completing their respective fifties before Jaiswal (90* off 193) and Rahul (62* off 153) stayed unbeaten at stumps on day two, to put India in firm control of the match with three days left to play.
India will be looking to continue on their merry ways with the bat on day three, while Australia have to pull their socks up, to make a comeback into the Test match.
