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The second day of the first Test between Australia and India saw the visitors bundle out the hosts at the score of 104 in their first innings at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Team India’s stand-in captain, Jasprit Bumrah led the charge with the ball, claiming five wickets and was well supported by debutant Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj, who claimed three and two wickets respectively.
Earlier, the hosts had resumed their batting on 67/7 and could only add 37 runs to their overnight score with Mitchell Starc top scoring with his 112-ball 26. With this, India secured 46-run lead after dismantling the hosts at a mere 104, early on Day 2 of the ongoing Perth Test.
India secure 46-run lead at Lunch on Day 2
For the unversed, Jasprit Bumrah-led India won the toss on Friday, November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth and opted to bat first. The side, on the back of a decent knock of 59-ball 41 from debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, India posted 150 runs in 49.4 overs. Apart from Reddy, KL Rahul, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel could only get double-digit scores in their first innings.
For the hosts, Josh Hazlewood was the star with the ball as he scalped four wickets in his 13-over spell while conceding 29 runs. Apart from him, Mitchell Starc scalped two wickets in his 11 overs, skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh also took two wickets to restrict India at 150 in the first innings. In return, Indian bowling attack restricted the hosts to 104, taking a lead of 46 runs going into lunch on Day 2. The Men in Blue will now aim to build on their lead in order to eye their first win in the five-match Test series down under.
