India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah completed his fifer whereas Harshit Rana took three wickets as Australia were bowled out for 104, their lowest score at Perth Stadium on Day 2 of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener. Mitchell Starc delayed the inevitable for long but his former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate Harshit Rana got the better of him. India lead by 46 runs. This is Australia's third-lowest total at home in 21st century.
Starting at an overnight score of 67/7, Alex Carey faced debutant Rana in the first over. Bumrah with the first delivery of the day got the wicket of wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey. Bumrah beat Carey with seam movement and the latter pushed at it with barely any footwork. The edge carried to Rishabh Pant who took a regulation catch. Carey scored 21 runs from 31 balls, the top-scorer for the hosts.
Bumrah persisted with Rana who bowled a hard ball, He pitched it short and ended Nathan Lyon's stay at the crease as KL Rahul took an easy catch at the third slip. Lyon scored five runs from 16 deliveries. Starc delayed the inevitable with Hazlewood at the other end. In the last over before the lunch break, he went for a big shot against Rana but it ballooned up in the air. Rishabh Pant took a comfortable catch. as Starc departed for 26 after facing 112 balls. On the other end, Josh Hazlewood remained unbeaten for seven runs from 31 balls. They shared a crucial 25-run partnership.
17 wickets fall on Day 1
Earlier, on Day 1, India were bowled out for 150 after Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl first. Debutant Nitish Reddy was the top-scorer. He scored 41 runs from 59 balls. Hazlewood was the pitck of the bowlers bagging four wickets. Starc, Cummins and Mitchell Marsh took two wickets each.
In reply, Australia faced a top-order collapse. Bumrah spit fire with the new ball. Debutant Nathan McSweeney was the first to fall. He got the better of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith off consecutive balls. Rana made Travis Head his maiden Test wicket. Siraj came back into the attack and got the outside edge off Marsh's bat. He ended Marnus Labuschagne's long stay at the crease as well. The last wicket of Day 1 was Cummins. Bumrah got the better of him.
