BGT 2024/25, Perth Test Day 2: India ground Australia into dirt with record opening partnership

India are firmly on top at the Optus Stadium in Perth after the first two days of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test. The visitors ended the day with 218runs ahead in the second innings including the first 46-run first innings lead without losing a single wicket.

Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched together an unbeaten 172 runs for the first wicket – the second-highest for India in Tests in Australia. Jaiswal was not out 90by the end of the day's play while Rahul was unbeaten on 62. Jaiswal (34 sixes)hit two sixes in his innings to go pastformer New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum's record of 33 sixes in 2014.

The pitch, which saw 17 wickets falling on the first day, eased out considerably on Saturday (Nov 23) and only three wickets fell on the day that too in the first session.

Also Read: Record Alert: Jasprit Bumrah goes past great Andy Roberts, James Anderson for most away Test five-fors

Earlier, Australia resumed their innings from the overnight score of 67/7 and it was not long before stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah sent back Alex Carey with his first ball of the day to complete his 11th Test five-for. Australian lower order added 24 runs more before being bundled out for 104 in the first innings in reply to India's 150.

Debutant Harshit Rana took three wickets including the last two Aussie wickets to finish at 3/48 in his maiden Test innings. India's third pacer Mohammed Siraj also picked up 2/20 while Bumrah finished with 5/30.

This was Bumrah's ninth away Test five-for, his 11th overall, surpassing several former greats, including Sir Andy Roberts, Allan Donald, Zaheer Khan and Denis Lillee.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc top scorer with 26 off 112 balls with Carey's 21 being the second best.