Virat Kohli's sixth Test ton in Australia was compensated for to some extent as Usman Khawaja's patient 41* stretched Australia's lead to 175 on day three of the second Test at Perth on Sunday, 16 December.
Australia went to stumps at 132/4 after Kohli's sensational 123 helped India to a sizeable total of 283. Nathan Lyon was the star with the ball for the hosts, claiming his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests, which included crucial wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant.
Kohli dominated the morning session despite losing his deputy in the first over of the day as Lyon induced a feather off Rahane's willow with a tossed-up delivery, thus breaking the 91-run stand between the two overnight batsmen.
Hanuma Vihari, who had starred with the ball on day two, tried to rebuild with Kohli after the early setback. The duo added 50 runs for the fifth wicket, steadying the ship with their cautious yet assertive approach.
Kohli notched up his 25th Test century in the 81st over with an off-drive drive down the ground for four, becoming the second fastest cricketer after Donald Bradman to reach the milestone.
But Vihari was dismissed soon after, falling to Josh Hazlewood for a 46-ball 20 as an away-going delivery caught the edge and carried to the wicket-keeper for an easy grab.
Kohli finally fell on 123 caught by Peter Handscomb at second slip off Pat Cummins a few minutes before lunch. The 30-year-old went searching for a wide delivery only to get a thick edge behind to the slip cordon.
Kohli's wicket brought another as Mohammed Shami was caught behind first-ball and India went to lunch at 252/7, having yielded four wickets that included three specialist batsmen in the morning session.
The hosts wrapped up the innings inside 13 overs after the break as Ishant Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah were dismissed for 4, 36 and 4 respectively and India were left 43 runs short of Australia's first-innings total of 326.
In the second innings, Australia enjoyed spates of luck and put on a crucial opening stand of 33 runs before Finch had to retire hurt after being hit on a finger by a rising Shami delivery. The right-hander was later taken to the hospital for scans, and the injury could rule him out from the remainder of this Test.
Unshaken, Marcus Harris (20) rode his luck and edged a shortish delivery from Ishant Sharma to the first slip, but survived after Cheteshwar Pujara failed to hold on the ball despite diving to his right.
Harris was eventually knocked over by Bumrah but not before he and Usman Khawaja had taken Australia's lead past the three-figure mark. Shaun Marsh followed as well, adding just five runs to the total before falling to Shami in the 21st over.
Peter Handscomb adopted a counter-attacking approach by slamming three quick boundaries, but was trapped lbw by Ishant Sharma for a 14-ball 13.
Travis Head joined Khawaja thereafter and a small 35-run partnership blossomed between the two as they took the hosts' total past the 100-run mark. But it couldn't last long as Head slashed at a wide ball from Shami, lobbing a catch to Sharma at the third-man fence.
That brought captain Paine to the crease, who combined with Khawaja for 7.5 overs to see Australia through to stumps.
Score:
Australia 326 & 132/4
India 283
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/944961
Australia went to stumps at 132/4 after Kohli's sensational 123 helped India to a sizeable total of 283. Nathan Lyon was the star with the ball for the hosts, claiming his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests, which included crucial wickets of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant.
Kohli dominated the morning session despite losing his deputy in the first over of the day as Lyon induced a feather off Rahane's willow with a tossed-up delivery, thus breaking the 91-run stand between the two overnight batsmen.
Hanuma Vihari, who had starred with the ball on day two, tried to rebuild with Kohli after the early setback. The duo added 50 runs for the fifth wicket, steadying the ship with their cautious yet assertive approach.
Kohli notched up his 25th Test century in the 81st over with an off-drive drive down the ground for four, becoming the second fastest cricketer after Donald Bradman to reach the milestone.
But Vihari was dismissed soon after, falling to Josh Hazlewood for a 46-ball 20 as an away-going delivery caught the edge and carried to the wicket-keeper for an easy grab.
Kohli finally fell on 123 caught by Peter Handscomb at second slip off Pat Cummins a few minutes before lunch. The 30-year-old went searching for a wide delivery only to get a thick edge behind to the slip cordon.
Kohli's wicket brought another as Mohammed Shami was caught behind first-ball and India went to lunch at 252/7, having yielded four wickets that included three specialist batsmen in the morning session.
The hosts wrapped up the innings inside 13 overs after the break as Ishant Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah were dismissed for 4, 36 and 4 respectively and India were left 43 runs short of Australia's first-innings total of 326.
In the second innings, Australia enjoyed spates of luck and put on a crucial opening stand of 33 runs before Finch had to retire hurt after being hit on a finger by a rising Shami delivery. The right-hander was later taken to the hospital for scans, and the injury could rule him out from the remainder of this Test.
Unshaken, Marcus Harris (20) rode his luck and edged a shortish delivery from Ishant Sharma to the first slip, but survived after Cheteshwar Pujara failed to hold on the ball despite diving to his right.
Harris was eventually knocked over by Bumrah but not before he and Usman Khawaja had taken Australia's lead past the three-figure mark. Shaun Marsh followed as well, adding just five runs to the total before falling to Shami in the 21st over.
Peter Handscomb adopted a counter-attacking approach by slamming three quick boundaries, but was trapped lbw by Ishant Sharma for a 14-ball 13.
Travis Head joined Khawaja thereafter and a small 35-run partnership blossomed between the two as they took the hosts' total past the 100-run mark. But it couldn't last long as Head slashed at a wide ball from Shami, lobbing a catch to Sharma at the third-man fence.
That brought captain Paine to the crease, who combined with Khawaja for 7.5 overs to see Australia through to stumps.
Score:
Australia 326 & 132/4
India 283
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/944961
Bumrah 20-7-35-1
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