Perth, Australia: Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a composed unbeaten 90 and KL Rahul a stylish 62 Saturday as India built an ominous 218-run lead over Australia to take a stranglehold on the opening Test in Perth. A determined and gritty effort by both men against a world-class attack put the visitors in the driving seat as they look to draw first blood in the five-match series. Jaiswal faced 193 balls while Rahul fended off 153 to steer India to 172 without loss at the close on day two.
India have won their last two Border-Gavaskar trophy series in Australia but came into the Perth Stadium clash after a devastating 3-0 home loss to New Zealand. After making a miserly 150 on a lively pitch in their first innings, the pressure was again on. But their response proved admirable.
They took a 46-run advantage into the second innings after dismissing the hosts for a meagre 104 at lunch, with dynamic skipper Jasprit Bumrah blitzing 5-30. Young gun Jaiswal, just 22 and in his 15th Test, failed to score in his first knock and began tentatively before a boundary off Mitchell Starc settled him. Batting alongside the more experienced Rahul, who was playing in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, they were resolute against the new ball on a pitch more placid than the treacherous one that greeted the players on Friday.
Both ran well between the wicket and cracked anything loose to the boundary, playing their shots as their confidence grew. With the ball not moving nearly as much, Australia w.
