India captain Jasprit Bumrah took the prized wicket of Alex Carey with his first ball of the day, but a rearguard 10th-wicket partnership between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated the tourists’ attempts to clean up Australia’s tail.
After a chaotic opening day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where 17 wickets fell in 76.4 overs of play, Australia lost three wickets in the two hours to lunch to be all out for 104, still 46 runs shy of India’s modest total of 150.
Australia avoided further humiliation by going past their lower total against India (83 in 1981) and bringing up triple figures, to the relief of the local crowd hoping this match continues until at least the end of the weekend.
In home Tests, Australia have been bowled out for fewer than 104 runs on just 11 occasions. The last time that happened was in 2016, when Australia were skittled for 85 in Hobart.
Bumrah, who took four wickets on Friday during a scintillating pace-bowling performance, struck immediately by removing Alex Carey for 21, caught behind by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
It was a delivery at which Carey did not need to play, but his score was nearly double that of Australia’s next best in Travis Head (11).
Tail-ender Josh Hazlewood added valuable runs at Perth Stadium. Credit: Getty Images
The dismissal brought up Bumrah’s second five-wicket haul or better against Australia, having taken 6-33 in the Boxing Day Test of 2018.
Nathan Lyon managed just five runs to leave Australia in major danger at 9-79, before Starc and Hazlewood provided some important resistance for the last wicket.
The pair batted for just under 18 overs and added 25 runs before Starc skied a Harshit Rana delivery and was well caught by Pant for 26 from 112 balls.
It was the fourth time in Tests Starc has faced 100 balls or more. The only time he has spent more time at the crease was when he made 99 from 144 balls against India in Mohali 11 years ago.
Starc faced only four fewer balls than the entire top six combined.
More to come
