Perth pitch, history against India
PERTH: India was set a target of 287 to win the second test and take an unassailable 20 series lead in Perth, where a demonic pitch helped the tourists clean up Australia’s tail on day four yesterday.
But it was off to a poor start, heading to the tea break on 15 for two, with opener Lokesh Rahul and first drop Cheteshwar Pujara gone.
Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine negotiated a wicketless morning session yesterday, advancing Australia to 192 for four before all hell broke loose in the first over after lunch.
A collapse of 15 for five was followed by a finalwicket stand of 36 runs between Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with the host side eventually rolled for 243.
Mohammed Shami’s careerbest haul of six for 56 has given the tourists a sniff, but recent and longterm history underlines how tricky India’s target is.
Its highest successful test runchase in Australia came in 2003, when it reached 233 for six at Adelaide Oval, while it has rarely played on an Australian deck with so many gremlins.
Shami fired out Paine and Aaron Finch, resuming after he retired hurt on day three because of a finger injury caused by the same bowler, with consecutive short balls.
Paine, having swapped verbal exchanges and gone chest to chest with Virat Kohli in the morning session, turned and looked back at India’s skipper as he walked off after being dismissed. It was unclear what Kohli said after holding a slips catch to dismiss his counterpart.
The introduction of the second new ball then resulted in Khawaja and Pat Cummins departing in contrasting fashion that highlighted the uneven bounce on offer.
Khawaja, whose 72 could well be the difference if Australia goes on to level the series, attempted to get his bat and gloves out of the way but edged a delivery on a good length that spat at him violently.
Cummins was bowled by an unplayable ball from Jasprit Bumrah that hit a crack and hardly bounced.
Nathan Lyon was Shami’s sixth victim, caught in the deep the next ball after being hit on the grille.
Starc and Hazlewood pushed the lead beyond 250 before the former was bowled by Bumrah.
Earlier, Kohli and Paine continued the slanging match they started late on day three.
Umpire Chris Gaffaney asked both captains to ‘‘play the game’’ after one spat, with Paine telling Kohli to keep his cool. — AAP