Travis Head, pacers put Australia in command

Travis Head, pacers put Australia in command

Travis Head smashed a 141-ball 140, giving Australia a first innings lead of 157. Australia's pacers then took five wickets under the lights, leaving India trailing by 29 runs.

Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc ripped through India's top order for the second time in the game, further underlining Australia's dominance. Mohammad Siraj eventually bowled Head off the second new ball.

Head accelerated against a tiring attack in the second session, smashing Harshit Rana for boundaries before registering a hundred off 111 balls – the quickest-ever in a day-night Test. He continued to punish Bumrah and Siraj, even against the second new ball. India had a brief injury scare when Bumrah clutched his groin but continued bowling.

Siraj finally yorked Head, followed by an exchange of words with the batter.

India toiled for every wicket, with R Ashwin their best bowler despite being hit for sixes by Head. Ashwin got Mitchell Marsh caught behind and saw Head dropped on 76 by Siraj. Head and Alex Carey (15) put on 74 off 80 balls before Carey was caught behind.

Siraj wrapped up the Australian tail early in the third session, leaving India facing tough conditions to bat in a day-night Test.

KL Rahul was surprised by a short ball from Cummins and pulled it to the keeper. Yashasvi Jaiswal started confidently but nicked behind off Boland's first ball. Boland then dismissed Virat Kohli. Starc added to India's woes, flattening Gill's middle stump with a ripping delivery. Rohit Sharma survived an LBW call from Starc, who overstepped. Cummins then got one to sneak past Sharma's defense, hitting the top of off.

At 105/5, Australia's control was comprehensive. Marnus Labuschagne then fought his way to a half-century, partnering with Head for 65 runs.

India's morning session saw Bumrah dismiss Nathan McSweeney and Steven Smith, putting Australia in a spot of bother at 103/3. Head and Labuschagne weathered an early spell from Bumrah and Siraj. Harshit Rana was hit for four fours in an over as Australia cruised ahead.

Labuschagne was eventually caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully off Nitish Reddy. Head continued to score, reaching his fifth Test fifty against India and second in the series.

A controversial LBW call against Mitchell Marsh was overturned on review, with the third umpire deeming there was no conclusive evidence if Ashwin's ball struck pad or bat first.

Brief Scores:
India 180 (Nitish Reddy 42; Mitchell Starc 6-48) & 128/5 (Rishabh Pant 28*; Pat Cummins 2-33) trail Australia 337 (Travis Head 140, Marnus Labuschagne 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-59, Mohammad Siraj 4-98) by 29 runs