India bat through session to pile pressure on Australia

Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have batted through the middle session on day two, extending India's lead to 130 in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. India are heading towards a famous victory - only their second Test win in Perth - after skittling Australia for a paltry 104 just before lunch on Saturday. After 17 wickets tumbled during a chaotic opening day, Rahul and Jaiswal looked comfortable on an Optus Stadium pitch that appears to be getting easier to bat on. The pair took India to 0-84 in their second innings, with Jaiswal (42 not out) putting a duck on Friday behind him, and Rahul (34 not out) continuing his encouraging start to the Test. Australia's bowlers looked like regularly taking wickets during the first innings, but they hadn't created any meaningful chances in India's 26 overs on Saturday. The hosts went to tea shell-shocked, just 24 hours after rolling India for 150 on a ground where teams have traditionally posted big first-innings scores. But a Jasprit Bumrah fast-bowling masterclass in Perth ensured Australia crashed to their lowest home Test total against India in 44 years to trail by 46 runs after their first innings. A courageous knock from pace ace Mitchell Starc allowed Australia to post some crucial lower-order runs after they were reeling at 9-79. Starc (26) batted for almost the entire first session, sticking around to top-score for Australia and face more balls - 112 - than any other batter in this Test. It is the second most balls Starc has faced in an innings in his Test career - only behind the 144 when he hit 99 against India back in 2013. The 34-year-old took a blow to the helmet, and the body, to help Australia reach triple figures. After dismantling Australia's top order on Friday, Bumrah (5-30) removed keeper-batter Alex Carey (21) with his first delivery of day two. Across eight Tests in Australia, Bumrah has taken 37 wickets at an average of 19.18. It was his third five-wicket haul in Australia, and the 12th of his 41-Test career. Carey has been the in-form batter in the Sheffield Shield this season, and produced a player-of-the-match unbeaten 98 in Australia's previous Test back in March against New Zealand. Starc was left to battle it out with Nathan Lyon, but the veteran spinner could only add five before falling to debutant Harshit Rana (3-48). Bumrah was appointed stand-in captain for this match after veteran opener Rohit Sharma stayed home for the birth of his second child. India arrived in Australia after suffering a historic 3-0 home whitewash against New Zealand and were given little hope of defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they have held since 2017. But Bumrah, who declared before the game that he thrived on responsibility, has proven himself a natural leader in the battle of fast-bowling captains up against Pat Cummins. India's only previous Test win in Perth came in 2008 at the WACA Ground.