Firstpost Cricast Episode 3: Virat Kohli's ton, Australia's top bowling effort and more talking points from hosts' 146-run win in second Test

Australia registered an easy win at the Optus Stadium in Perth against India to level the series 1-1. In this latest episode of the Firstpost’s Cricast Australia tour of India, we discuss the way hosts overcame Virat Kohli and Co at Perth. Winning the toss on a tough surface is always a good start and Tim Paine called it right and opted to bat first. Once the Australian openers had raced off to a brilliant start, they always held that ascendancy even when they collapsed, first in the second session and then when they lost their final four wickets for just 49 runs. However, India fought till four days in the Test thanks to a brilliant Virat Kohli century - he’s made this a habit now - but without too much support at the other end, Australia were able to go into the lunch break on day three with a substantial lead under belt. While the Indian speedsters bowled rather well on day three, the absence of a frontline spinner and Umesh Yadav’s relatively underwhelming performance gave Australia the window of opportunity they needed to set India a stiff task on that wicket. A final wicket stand between Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins yielded 36 runs and that only added to the Indian woes. Chasing 287 for a win, India were pegged back early yet again after KL Rahul fell for a duck and man-of-the-match in the first game, Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed to a ball that reared up from length. While Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli raised the Indian hopes, Nathan Lyon scythed through the middle-order and Starc and Cummins returned on day five to complete the formalities.