Australia on track for victory after fiery day of action
Australia are on track to level the four-Test series after dismissing Virat Kohli and reducing India to 5-112 in a chase for 287 on a testy fourth day in Perth.
Kohli led an inspired fightback in India’s first innings of the second Test but the world’s best batsman had no answers to Tim Paine’s barbs and Nathan Lyon’s bounce on Monday.
Lyon dismissed Kohli for a seventh time in Tests, drawing him forward with a well-flighted delivery that was edged to Usman Khawaja at first slip, then Murali Vijay as India slumped to 4-55.
Ajinkya Rahane’s needless dismissal then left Australia perfectly placed to complete their first Test win since the Cape Town cheating scandal, with one more wicket to expose the visitors’ long tail at Optus Stadium.
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Paine and Usman Khawaja’s 72-run stand enhanced the hosts’ advantage during Monday’s wicket-less morning session, while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood both struck on the demonic pitch during a brutal six-over burst before tea.
A slanging match between Paine and Kohli, ignited late on day three, briefly turned physical to provide broadcasters with more fodder than any tactical showdown between the captains.
A fired-up Kohli, who had been a relative picture of composure in the match until his first-innings knock of 123 ended with a contentious catch on Sunday, needled Paine and agitated in search of an early breakthrough.
Kohli stationed himself in the path of Paine at one point when the batsman was running between the wickets, with the pair making slight contact when they were chest to chest.
Australia were relatively quiet during the superstar’s 40-ball stint at the crease and there was no send-off, although Paine made his thoughts about Kohli clear soon after the superstar’s dismissal.
“I know he’s your captain but you can’t seriously like him as a bloke,” Paine quipped to Vijay.
Paine, earlier dismissed when Kohli snaffled a slips catch, had turned and looked back at his counterpart as he walked off.
It was unclear whether Kohli’s cackling attracted Paine’s attention or something was said.
Mohammed 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 then removed Khawaja and Lyon.
Pat Cummins’ dismissal, bowled by an unplayable ball from Jasprit Bumrah that hit a crack and hardly bounced, highlighted the uneven bounce on offer.
Shami’s career-best haul of 6-56 gave India’s fans hope but there was no hiding the imposing nature of their target.
INDIA’S HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL TEST RUN-CHASES OUTSIDE INDIA:
* 4-406 v West Indies (1976, Port of Spain) * 3-264 v Sri Lanka (2001, Kandy) * 5-258 v Sri Lanka (2010, Colombo) * 6-233 v Australia (2003, Adelaide).