Perth, Dec 15 (UNI) India were 70/2 till tea after bowling Australia out for 326 runs on day two in the second Test being played here on Saturday.
Cheteshwar Pujara (23) and Virat Kohli (37) were at the crease when the lunch was declared.
Responding to Australia's 326 runs, India got off to a bad start as Mitchell Starc dismissed Murali Vijay for a duck. Soon Josh Hazlewood sent KL Rahul back into the pavilion for 2 off 17 balls, reducing India to 8/2.
Pujara did not look comfortable against Nathan Lyon.
The ploy to bring in silly point nearly worked. Pujara came out of his crease, but instead of using his pads, he tried to play the ball in leg side. The ball turned a bit more and came off the pad. Peter Handscomb at silly point nearly flicked the ball onto the stumps before Pujara hurried back.
Earlier in the morning, the hosts frustrated India's attack during a wicketless opening hour of play before losing 4-16. Ishant Sharma (4-41) helped India to wrap up the tail.
Umesh Yadav gave India its first breakthrough of the day. Pat Cummins (19) was bowled by Umesh Yadav.
In the very next over, Jasprit Bumrah removed overnight batsman Tim Paine for 38 off 89 balls. The ball was coming in with an angle, and Paine plumbed in the front of stumps.
They went for the review. But the third umpire upheld the field umpire's decision.
Ishant Sharma replaced Yadav in 109th over. He dismissed Mitchell Starc for six runs. In the same over,
Josh Hazlewood was caught behind by Risabh Pant for duck.
Marcus Harris (70), Aaron Finch (50) and Travis Head (58) were the top three high scorers from the hosts.
Senior campaigner Ishant Sharma bagged four wickets in his 20.3 overs, conceded just 41 runs with an economy of 2.00.
While Bumrah, Yadav and Hanuman Vihari took two wickets each in Australia's first innings.
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first and managed to keep the Indian bowlers at bay. But Indian team made come back towards the end of play, restricting Australia for 277/6.
India has been leading the series by 1-0. The visitors defeated the hosts by 31 runs in the first Test at Adelaide Oval.
This is the third time when India has been playing with all-pace attack in a Test.
UNI GK 1258