Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his merry 2024 as he registered his fourth Test century, and first against Australia, and India continued to dominate proceedings in the first Test in Perth. Jaiswal remained unbeaten at Lunch on 141 as the visitors scored 103 runs in the session for the loss of KL Rahul’s wicket, the only flicker of hope for Australia in the innings before Devdutt Padikkal and Jaiswal ensured the hosts made no further inroads.
Rahul and Jaiswal continued to show their intent from the first delivery of the day as the latter dropped the ball with soft hands and took a quick single. They followed it up with a couple of boundaries of Mitchell Starc signalling ominous signs for the hosts. Josh Hazlewood did manage to continue beating the bat, as he did yesterday, but was unlucky and couldn’t find the outside edge.
The Indian batters continued to drop and run, frustrating the Australians who couldn’t settle with their lines and lengths. After being tested in the nineties by Hazlewood, Jaiswal ramped him for a six over fine-leg which brought up his 100, scoring his third century of the calendar year. Jaiswal learnt his lesson from the first innings admirably well, as he intercepted the ball in the second innings off his backfoot more often than not which allowed him to ride the bounce off the deck. He was however almost dismissed in the next over, having run for a non-existent single but Pat Cummins missed the direct hit.
Having just brought up the 200-run opening stand, Rahul was caught behind off Starc for a well-made 77.
Jaiswal scored a couple of streaky boundaries as new batting partner Devdutt Padikkal managed to get off his pair. Nathan Lyon didn’t get any purchase off the pitch either and with a spread out field, the batters managed to keep the scoreboard ticking. Cummins threw the ball to Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, before the second new ball was taken, to give his fast bowlers a rest. But this ploy seemed futile as well for the Australians and India quickly collected 20 runs in first-four overs since the new ball was taken.
Hazlewood bowled two deliveries down the leg-side which raced to the boundary as byes while Starc, who looked for swing, erred on length and was punished for a couple of boundaries before Lunch was called. The pitch continues to look pristine to bat on and India will look to take their lead completely beyond Australia’s grasp.
Brief Scores: India 150 and 275/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 141*, KL Rahul 77; Mitchell Starc 1-82) lead Australia 104 (Mitchell Starc 26, Alex Carey 21; Jasprit Bumrah 5-30) by 321 runs

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