India 5 wickets away from big win in 1st test against Australia

On By Littum

PERTH, Australia (AP) – Fast bowler Mohamed Siraj bowled India to the brink of victory in the opening Border-Gavaskar series cricket Test, with Australia struggling 104-5 at lunch on the fourth day.

Siraj removed opener Usman Khawaja with his fourth ball on Monday and then accounted for star player Steve Smith to end a frustrating 62-run fifth wicket stand.

Siraj switched ends with another fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and forced Smith (17) to take a low catch behind to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Siraj took 3-34, while Bumrah, Australia’s destroyer-in-chief in the first innings with 5-30, had 2-26 at the break.

Travis Head was 63 not out and Mitchell Marsh unbeaten on five with the pair to resume after lunch as Australia face the grim task of surviving a minimum of 165 overs over five sessions to prevent India taking a 1-0 series lead.

India are close to winning only their second Test against Australia in Perth in six matches after the 72-run victory at the WACA in January 2008. It will also be the tourists’ 10th win in 53 Tests on Australian soil.

India’s commanding position was established by majestic centuries from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) and a masterful 100 not out from Virat Kohli as India closed their second innings on 487-6 declared.

This was after an outstanding innings of fast bowling by Bumrah, who dismissed Australia for 104 in reply to India’s 150 all out on an eventful first day in which 17 wickets fell.

Setting an impossible 534 runs to win the Test on a Perth Stadium surface that is increasingly deteriorating, Australia crashed to 12-3 on the third night.

The start to day four did not go well for the hosts as Siraj forced Khawaja (4) to the top edge for Pant to complete a running catch to reduce Australia to 17-4.

But Smith and Head survived some anxious moments against India’s pace quartet and Head counter-attacked his way to a 63-ball half-century with six fours. He has faced 72 balls and hit seven fours so far.

Smith, the most experienced batsman in the side, put nothing behind his first ball in the first innings to play a guarded innings but was ultimately undone by a superb Siraj delivery.

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AP cricket: