Jaiswal and Kohli power India to the verge of victory
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli starred on a power-packed Sunday in Perth as the first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India reached its climax.
Following shocking scores on day one where India won the toss and batted first — only to get bowled out for 150 — the visitors looked calm and composed as ever for their second innings total of 487/6.
Australia’s failure to deal with Jasprit Bumrah in their first innings meant that they would crumble for just 104 — giving the Indian batters full control on Saturday and Sunday.
While KL Rahul missed out on his century after two hard-fought innings’ (26, 77), Jaiswal was phenomenal for his 161 off 297 balls.
An unbeaten Kohli got a special test ton, too — his first since July last year.
The all-time great continued his hot streak of form in Australia, adding to six previous centuries down under and taking his average up to 54.
Leading the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah called his troops in as soon as Kohli reached his landmark.
The declaration ensured that the pacer and his fellow bowlers would get four overs at the Australian batters in their pursuit of a mammoth 534-run total.
Those four overs could not have gone any better for Bumrah and company.
The Mumbai Indians man struck in the first over to remove Nathan McSweeney before Mohammed Siraj picked up night watchman Pat Cummins.
Bumrah would then get one more to put the icing on the cake of a flawless day for India — dismissing Marnus Labuschagne to leave Australia in a shambles at 12/3 heading into day four’s action.
india need seven wickets to win the first of five test matches. Play gets underway from 04:20 am on Monday, live on SuperSport.
Pictured above: Virat Kohli
Source: @bcci