Perth Test: Indian bowlers keep it tight, Aussies take 175 runs lead

Indian bowlers did not let the momentum shift in favour of Australia as they scalped wickets at regular intervals in the final session of Day Three of their ongoing second Test here at the Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Australia ended the day with a total of 132 runs on board at the loss of four wickets to take a 175-run lead in the match.

After bowling out Indian batsmen for 283 runs, Australia started their second innings on a steady note with a crucial 43-run lead. Their openers, Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris, stitched a 33-run partnership before Finch retired hurt. The right-hand batsman was struck with a painful blow off a Mohammed Shami delivery in the 13th over of their innings. Afterward, he was taken off the field for an x-ray on a possible right index finger fracture.

The departure of Finch was a big blow for the hosts, but nevertheless, Usman Khawaja resumed the innings along with Harris. Both the batsman added 26 runs to their team's total before the fall of Harris. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah bowled a good length delivery from round the wicket which clipped off Harris' stumps.

Soon, another top-order batsman Shaun Marsh (5) returned back to the pavilion when pacer Mohammed Shami bowled a short ball which was angled across outside off. Marsh went for a pull but only managed a thin bottom edge which went straight keeper Rishabh Pant.

Australia had managed just 20 runs to their total when another Indian pacer Ishant Sharma came with another blow for the hosts. A full and straight delivery from Sharma trapped Peter Handscomb (21) in front of the wickets and umpire signaled it lbw out.

Following batsman Travis Head, along with Khawaja, did a good job providing some support to the sinking Australian ship. The effort did not last long as Shami struck again with his short and wide delivery. Head was caught at third slip at the score of 19.

Before the umpires called it a day, Australia had already lost four wickets with Khawaja (41) and Tim Paine (8) holding the crease for their side.

For India, pacer Shami picked two wickets while Sharma and Bumrah scalped one wicket each for their side.