WATCH: McSweeney, Labuschagne combine for stunning catch to send back Harshit Rana

WATCH: McSweeney, Labuschagne combine for stunning catch to send back Harshit Rana

Debutant Harshit Rana departed after scoring seven runs off five deliveries in the first Test against Austalia at Optus Stadium in Perth. He made an instant impact as he nearly hit a boundary on the very first first ball hr faced in Test cricket but the outfield wasn’t fast enough for the ball to carry to the fence as Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy ran three. He then hit a boundary in his fourth delivery before nicking one to the slips.  

Rana failed to time Josh Hazlewood’s delivery and edged it to the left of the gully, where another debutant, Nathan McSweeney, was stationed. The cricketer stretched to his left to pick up a diving catch but failed to keep the ball in his hands. The ball deflected after hitting his palm and was briefly in the air. Marnus Labuchagne, who was placed in the third slips, was excellent to react in quick time as he held the ball to dismiss Rana and complete a brilliant relay catch.

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— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) November 22, 2024

India bundled out for 150 runs

Meanwhile, Indian batters had a tough time in the middle in Perth as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal failed to open their tally while Virat Kohli fell for just five runs. KL Rahul looked in good touch as he made 26 before being given out in a controversial manner.

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Later, Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar made 11 and four respectively. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy took control of the situation and played some good cricket in a brief partnership but it did not last too long. Pant looked in good touch, scoring 37 runs and taking the attack to the Australians but Pat Cummins eventually sent him back.

Reddy, on the other hand, made 41 runs off 59 deliveries. With wickets falling quickly from the other end, he had to accelerate and that led to his dismissal as India were bundled out for 150. Josh Hazlewood picked up a four-wicket haul while Cummins, Starc and Mitch Marsh picked up two each.