India fight back after Australia start well

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Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris and Travis Head recorded half-centuries to help Australia end on 277/6 on Friday, 14 December**.**Hanuma Vihari and Ishant Sharma were the most productive bowlers for India, clinching a brace apiece.

Both captains wanted to bat first, but it was Tim Paine who got to do so at the toss. The surface at the Perth International Stadium was expected to be lively and conducive to pace, which is probably why India unleashed a bowling attack without a specialist spinner for just the fourth time in their history.

Finch and Harris started off well. The duo denied India an early breakthrough and batted through the morning session to take the hosts to lunch with 66 runs on the board without losing a wicket. Both batsmen notched up half-centuries.

After lunch, they became the first pair to build a 100-run opening stand against India in 46 innings. Harris, the local lad, was particularly impressive with his confident stroke-making. The left-hander struck three fine boundaries in quick succession and notched up his maiden Test fifty with a single off Mohammed Shami.

Just as it seemed like India were falling behind significantly, Bumrah struck in his first over after lunch. Finch, who had just reached his fifty, was struck on his pad plumb in front of the wicket and had to walk back for a 105-ball 50.

The seamer then took control of the game, bowling at the ideal line and length in his fiery spell. Usman Khawaja played out Bumrah in an attempt to settle into the innings. But persistent pressure from India paid dividends as he fell to Umesh Yadav, having played out 37 deliveries to add five runs to the scoreboard.

Khawaja slashed his bat to tackle a shortish delivery from the pacer, only to edge it to Pant behind the wicket.

The third scalp for India came from a surprising source – Vihari. The part-time off-spinner made up for India's lack of specialist spin-bowling options, doing exactly what his captain required of him on the first day. The high bounce on the delivery surprised Harris – who tried to cut the ball – only for it to clip off his glove to nestle into Ajinkya Rahane's waiting hands at first slip.

Shaun Marsh struck a couple of boundaries to bolster his confidence before tea, but the session belonged to India, who stormed back into the game with three wickets.

Peter Handscomb was dismissed in a moment of magic in the field from the India skipper. Ishant Sharma's back-of-the-length delivery took a thick edge off Handscomb's willow, looking like it would fly over second slip. Virat Kohli, though, stuck out his hand and stretched to his full length to pluck it out of the air and complete a sensational grab.

What followed next was a productive period for the hosts, where Marsh and Travis Head combined to add 84 runs for the fifth wicket. The duo looked comfortable and took the attack to the opposition, propelling Australia past 200 with their assertive effort.

An opportunity came India's way when Vihari extracted an edge off Marsh's willow in the 67th over, only for the ball to pop out of Pant's gloves. It would have gone on to be a costly drop for India, but the off-spinner mitigated the situation by dismissing the left-hander 10 overs later.

The batsman's attempted cut flew to Rahane at slip and the India vice-captain reacted well to hold on to the ball to give India their fifth scalp. The Indian skipper and his deputy, with 70 and 69 catches respectively, are now ninth and tenth on the list of most Test catches for India.

The final wicket of the day well to Ishant Sharma after Head's powerful drive went down the throat of Shami at third man.

It is safe to say that each team clinched one session each. But on a pitch that has begun to offer drama for the bowlers, Australia will be happy with what they've got.