INDvsAUS, Perth Test: India 172-3 at stumps, trail by 154 runs

India were at 172 for a loss of three wickets at stumps on the second day of Perth Test on Saturday.

In reply to Australia's first innings of 326, India recovered from the cheap dismissals of openers Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul and now trail 154 runs.

Captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten and will resume tomorrow's game.

The visitors suffered the first blow on the stroke of lunch when a fired-up Mitchell Starc clean bowled Vijay for a duck.

Australia's momentum continued after the resumption when Rahul was bowled by a full Josh Hazlewood delivery for two.

Kohli found a detemined ally with first-Test hero Cheteshwas Pujara for the third wicket but Pujara lost his wicket to Starc after scoring 24 runs.

Virat Kohli: 89 (181)
Ajinkya Rahane: 51 (103)

India vs Australia

After 55 overs, India trail 194 runs.

India vs Australia

Virat Kohli completes his hal-century playing a very responsible innings in Perth Test.

It's his 20th half-century.

India vs Australia

Starc sends back first-Test hero, Cheteshwar Pujara at a score of 24.

Pujara faced a total of 103 balls played at a strike rate of 23.30.

Kohli and Pujara resume game after tea break.

India vs Australia

After losing both the openers, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara raised a 62-run crucial stand as India are 70-2 after 32 overs at tea in reply to Australia's first innings total of 326 on the second day of the second Test at Perth Stadium.

Australian pacers strike early to dismiss Murli Vijay and KL Rahul.

Mitchell Starc's inswinger went straight through Vijay's defences and rattled the stumps.

After that, a swingy yorker by Josh Hazlewood sent back Rahul.

India trail by 256 runs. 

Brief Scoreboard:

Australia first innings: 326 all out in 108.3 overs

(Marcus Harris 70, Travis Head 58; Ishant Sharma 4/41, Jasprit Bumeah 2/53, Hanuma Vihari 2/53). 

India first innings: 70 for 2 in 32 overs.

(V Kohli batting 37, C Pujara batting 23; M Strac 1/12, J Hazlewood 1/30). 

A stunning swingy yorker by Josh Hazlewood bowled KL Rahul.

Rahul scored two runs.

India skipper Virat Kohli is in at number four,

India were at a score of six runs after losing wicket of Murli Vijay at second day's lunch.

Vijay scored zero after facing 12 balls.

 A fired-up Mitchell Starc removed India opener Vijay for a duck to bring up lunch on the second day of the second Test on Saturday, giving Australia an early boost in the field.

Australia scored some invaluable lower-order runs on a green-tinged Perth Stadium pitch before Ishant Sharma mopped up the tail to leave his openers with a nervous 15 minutes at the crease before the break.

Vijay was not up to the task and was cleaned bowled by left-arm quick Starc, who had come in for some criticism for his bowling during Australia's 31-run defeat in the first Test in Adelaide.

India were 6-1 at lunch with Lokesh Rahul on one not out to be joined after the break by in-form Cheteshwar Pujara.

Australia were bowled out for 326 in their first innings before lunch on the second day of the second Test as India fought back with four wickets in five overs.

Marcus Harris top-scored for the hosts with 70, while Aaron Finch and Travis Head also struck half-centuries. Paceman Ishant Sharma ran through the tail to finish with four for 41.

Here is the scoreboard:

Australia first innings: (Overnight 277/6)
Marcus Harris c A Rahane b Hanuma Vihari 70
Aaron Finch lbw b Bumrah 50
Usman Khawaja c Pant b Umesh 5
Shaun Marsh c A Rahane b Hanuma Vihari 45
Peter Handscomb c Kohli b Ishant 7
Travis Head c Shami b Ishant 58
Tim Paine lbw b Bumrah 38
Pat Cummins b Umesh 19
Mitchell Strac c Pant b Ishant 6
Nathan Lyon not out 9
Josh Hazlewood c Pant b Ishant 0
Extra (LB-7, B-4 W-7, NB-1) 19
Total (All out in 108.3 overs) 326
Fall of Wickets: 1-112, 2-130, 3-134, 4-148, 5-232, 6-251, 7-310, 8-310, 9-326.
Bowlers: Ishant Sharma 20.3-7-41-4, Jasprit Bumrah 26-8-53-2, Umesh Yadav 23-3-78-2, Mohammed Shami 24-3-80-0, Hanuma Vihari 14-1-53-2, Murali Vijay 1-0-10-0.

Ishant Sharma proves decisive as he took both remaining wickets.

He will be on a hat-trick in the second innings.

Mitchell Starc scored six runs on 10 balls and Josh Hazlewood goes back on duck.

Ishant Sharma comes in action at the place of Shami.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon at the crease.

Umesh Yadav gets Cummins wicket, Australia at 310/7 105 overs

Immediately after Cummins' wicket, Jasprit Bumrah strikes and sends back skipper Tim Paine.

Paine scored 38 runs off 89 balls.

Australia ask for a review but was denied by the third umpire.

Umesh Yadav sends back Pat Cummins as India get first wicket today.

Cummins scored 19 runs off 66 balls.

Australia have made a good start in today's game.

Shami and Ishant are good with spells but they failed to take to wickets.

It's time for the drinks.

Australia were at 306-6 after 103 overs.

Pat Cummins: 19(60)
Tim Paine: 34(81)

Australia were at 300-6 after 100 overs in Perth Test.

The tail-enders are troubling Indian bowling department.

Australian skipper and Tim Paine and Pat Cummins resume second day's game at Perth Stadium.

Pat Cummins: 11(29)
Tim Paine: 16(34)

India vs Australia

India vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 1

Australia doggedly overcame a green-tinged Perth Stadium pitch in fierce heat to wrest back control of the second test on Friday after India had threatened to take advantage of some favourable bowling conditions on day one.

The hosts, 1-0 down in the four-match series after losing the opener in Adelaide, reached stumps on 277 for six with captain Tim Paine unbeaten on 16 and Pat Cummins 11 not out.

Marcus Harris, Aaron Finch and Travis Head all made half-centuries but none of them was able to really put their foot down on the gas as India pegged the Australians back on a grassy, drop-in wicket that occasionally played a few tricks.

Recalled spin-bowling all-rounder Hanuma Vihari and quick Ishant Sharma claimed two wickets apiece to get the tourists back into the contest after the Australians had won the toss and batted through the first session without losing a wicket.

Harris and Finch put together a 112-run opening partnership before India, playing four seamers with no specialist spinner, separated them when the pitch came roaring to life after lunch.

The Indian tactics of targeting Finch's pads were rewarded when quick Jasprit Bumrah trapped him lbw for 50 with a searing, full delivery in the midst of a probing spell.

Usman Khawaja, who made an excruciating five off 38 balls, was the second batsman to fall, rashly cutting Umesh Yadav in a desperate attempt to break the shackles after being tied down by the Indian bowlers.

Harris also departed before the second break to a rising delivery from Vihari, the opener steering the ball to first slip to end his 141-ball knock of 70.

India captain Virat Kohli ensured that India maintained the pressure after tea when he snared a spectacular full-stretched, one-handed catch off Sharma to dismiss Peter Handscomb for seven as Australia crashed to 148-4.

Head and Shaun Marsh watchfully dug Australia out of a hole, though, before the latter fell for 45 to a sharp Ajinkya Rahane catch at slip off Vihari. South Australian Head chanced his arm with an 80-ball 58, but needlessly holed out straight after India had taken the second new ball.

"I think when you see the ball seaming off good parts of the wicket, dramatically at times, you need to tighten up but also cash in at other times," said Finch.

"We know their four quicks are world class and that it was going to be a challenge."

Vihari praised India’s fight and said the morning session on day two could shape the match.

"Our plan was to be disciplined and I think we did very well in that aspect after bouncing back in all three sessions," he said.

"I think the first hour tomorrow will be very crucial. If we get them out below 320 then we are right back in the game."

Most of the 20,746 spectators at the new 60,000-seat stadium spent much of the day seeking refuge under the shelter of the stands with the temperature hitting 39 degrees Celsius.

The test is the first at the ground after a 47-year run at the WACA and Australia will be keen to christen their new home by ending a run of six tests without a victory against an India side seeking a first series win Down Under.