India sizzle in sun, Australia scorched

Opener Jaiswal’s 161 and Kohli’s 30th Test century followed by the hosts’ batting tumble leave India eyeing a win in Perth

- ASHISH MAGOTRA

For most of Day 3, India were content to score runs without any drama. Just bat, bat and bat, and in the process grind the Aussies into the hard Perth soil.

The day was the warmest so far, with temperatures reaching as high as 34 degrees Celsius, and the home team was baked in it for just the right amount of time.

So, when India declared their innings setting a target of 534 runs late on Sunday evening with shadows extending across the ground, the hope was that the sufficiently dispirited Aussies would collapse like a pack of cards. It wasn't misplaced optimism either as in the 30 minutes that India bowled for, they managed to snare three wickets and leave the hosts tottering at 12/3.

India are so far ahead that Australia can't even see them at this point and credit for that has to go to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a out when brilliant 161, Virat Kohli, who was 100 not India decided to have another go at the Aussies, and Jasprit Bumrah who has drilled the fear of the gods into the hosts.

The day started with the Indians hitting a few more shots. KL Rahul and Jaiswal extended their partnership to 201, making it India's highest opening stand in Australia and the sixth highest ever for any team on a tour Down Under.