LIVE: Day 3 – India continue dominance going into Lunch after superb Jaiswal century
It was a bright start for India on Day 3 at Perth with Yashasvi Jaiswal getting to his maiden Test ton on Australian soil.
India continued to dominate on Day 3 of the opening Border-Gavaskar Test at Perth, piling on runs and extending their lead beyond 300.
Yashasvi Jaiswal spearheaded the charge with a brilliant 141*, while Devdutt Padikkal (25*) provided solid support heading into Lunch, with their second-wicket partnership standing at an unbeaten 74.
KL Rahul's dismissal by Mitchell Starc was the only moment of joy for Australia in another gruelling session of play.
Jaiswal sets the tone early
In his debut match on Australian soil, Yashasvi Jaiswal proved his mettle with a composed century in the second innings.
He brought up the milestone in style, executing an upper cut off Josh Hazlewood that cleared the boundary and landed on the cushion for a six.
However, soon after, Australia finally found some relief when Mitchell Starc ended India's resilient 201-run opening stand, dismissing Rahul for a well-made 77.
Following the breakthrough, Padikkal joined Jaiswal at the crease, and together, the two southpaws kept the scoreboard ticking with boundaries flowing at regular intervals.
In the four overs with the new ball, India looked comfortable against Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, although the Australian duo were guilty of straying in their lines and lengths as they headed into Lunch.
The story of the first two days
India's batters struggled after stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first on a spicy Perth wicket. Josh Hazlewood led the bowling charts for Australia with a four-wicket haul, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh bagging two wickets each.
However, the Men in Blue fought back with the ball, with skipper Jasprit Bumrah to the fore at the very start before debutant Harshit Rana and experienced Mohammed Siraj backed him up towards the end of Day 1
LATEST WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
India then bowled out the home side for 104 early on Day 2, courtesy a sizzling fifer from Bumrah.
Kickstarting their second innings with a 46-run lead, it was all going in Rahul and Jaiswal's favour as the opening duo took off in sizzling style, forging an unbeaten 172-run stand in 57 overs at stumps on Day 2. India's lead stood at 218 heading into play on Day 3.