Australia vs India 2018: 2nd Test Match, Perth, Day 1 - Report

Australia ended the opening day of the second Test match with 277 runs with the loss of six wickets. The host’s captain Tim Paine won the toss and decided to bat first. Australian openers Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris gave a fine opening start as both of them added 112 runs for the first wicket. Finch was accurate in his batting approach as he scored a fine fifty.

On the other hand, Marcus Harris adopted a cautious approach in the initial stages. Subsequently, the southpaw batsman changed gears after the first few minutes. The left-hander grew in confidence as he scored some delightful drives in his knock of 70 runs.

The Australian openers gave a solid start as the opening session produced 66 runs. Meanwhile, the Indian bowlers were short in length and failed to hit the right areas in the first session of play.

However, the Indian bowlers were able to turn the tables in the second session of the opening day. Jasprit Bumrah led the charge as the pacer asked the right questions from the Australian batters. Bumrah plumbed Aaron Finch in front of the wickets to get India’s first wicket.

Usman Khawaja continued with his policy of playing defensively and had to pay to price for playing with the dead bat. Umesh Yadav was able to produce Khawaja’s outside edge which was taken by Pant. India scalped their third wicket when Hanuma Vihari bamboozled Marcus Harris with steep bounce.

India once again had a good start to the third and final session when Virat Kohli pulled a miraculous catch at second slip. Kohli jumped to his right to take a one-handed blinder.

However, Australia made a good comeback through an 84-run alliance between Shaun Marsh and Travis, who both were half-centurions in the first Test match.

Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari gave another bonus wicket to the tourists when Shaun Marsh flashed hard for a cut shot. India’s deputy Ajinkya Rahane took a sharp catch at first slip. Travis Head scored a valiant knock of 58 runs before going with hard hands to find the deep square fielder, Mohammed Shami.

Meanwhile, Australia had the rub of the green on their side in the last half an hour play as Jasprit Bumrah breathed down the neck of Tim Paine and Pat Cummins.

Brief Scores: Australia: 277-7, Travis Head 58, Marcus Harris 70.

Ishant Sharma: 2-35.