The Australian batters crumbled under relentless pressure, finishing the first day at a dire 67/7. On the second morning, overnight batters Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey resumed, but Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah maintained his dominance, dismissing Carey in the 29th over to bring Nathan Lyon to the crease.
The pitch continued to assist the pacers, and Harshit Rana capitalized, finding Lyon’s edge to leave Australia teetering at 79/9. Despite the Indian bowlers’ efforts, the last-wicket pair of Starc and Josh Hazlewood resisted, frustrating the attack with an 18-run stand.
Eventually, Rana broke through, dismissing Starc and wrapping up the Australian innings for 104, giving India a 46-run lead at lunch. After the break, Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased disciplined and assured batting, a marked improvement from the first innings.
Starting cautiously, they reached 27/0 in 10 overs before gradually accelerating. By the 15th over, the score stood at 52/0, with the lead stretched to 98 runs. The Australian bowlers, struggling to find their rhythm, were unable to break the partnership as the Indian openers steadily built on their advantage.
With the seam movement fading, Rahul and Jaiswal continued to score freely, moving India to 84/0 in 26 overs, with a commanding lead of 130 runs.The final session saw more of the same as Rahul and Jaiswal adapted well to the slower conditions.
By the 38th over, India had reached 101/0, with a lead of 147 runs. Jaiswal’s determination was rewarded as he brought up his maiden half-century on Australian soil off 123 balls. Frustration mounted for the Australians as missed chances and sloppy fielding allowed India to tighten their grip on the game.
Virat Kohli saluting Yashasvi and Rahul 🫡🥰 pic.twitter.com/cm2KNNmxhL
— Atmaram Tukaram Bhide (@BakchodBhide) November 23, 2024
Rahul soon followed suit, bringing up his fifty off 124 deliveries. The partnership remained unbroken, and India finished the day at 174/0 in 57 overs, with a commanding lead of 218 runs, leaving the visitors firmly in control.