Travis Head proved to be a thorn in India’s flesh yet again as he smashed a 141-ball 140 that pulled the game firmly in Australia’s favour. By the time Mohammad Siraj bowled him off the second new ball, Head had done more than enough to dent India’s confidence.

The second session saw him press the accelerator against a tiring attack with an older ball. The time was ripe to cash in and Head did so with elan, smashing Harshit Rana threw the offside before registering a hundred off only 111 balls – the quickest-ever in a day-night Test as he powered Australia’s lead at a rapid pace.

Even against the second new ball which was India’s biggest weapon, he started off whipping and clipping Bumrah and Siraj as they missed their lines for crucial boundaries. India had a brief injury scare during this period when Bumrah was down clutching his groin but went on to bowl again. But the wicket finally came to Siraj who yorked Head and followed it up with an exchange of words with the batter.

It brought an end to a frustrating period of play for India where they were made to toil for every wicket. R Ashwin who had been their best bowler through that period despite being hit for a couple of sixes by Head had got Mitchell Marsh caught behind but Head stepped up in the company of Alex Carey (15) where they put on 74 off just 80 balls before the latter was out caught behind. The lead swelled past 150 by the time the Tea interval came around when Pat Cummins was bowled by Bumrah.

The session was perfect for the hosts after having had to grind it out earlier in the morning. Marnus Labuschagne put away some indifferent form to fight his way to a half-century on a ground where he averages over 70. His partnership worth 65 with Travis Head for the fourth wicket helped them offset two early strikes by Burmah.

India’s morning session was given a boost when Bumrah had Nathan McSweeney caught behind with a ball nipping away and soon after also had Steven Smith caught down the legside, putting Australia in a spot of bother at 103/3. Head was tested early with the round-the-wicket angle by both Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but managed to see it through. Along with Labuschagne, he saw through that spell to cash in later. Harshit Rana was hit for four fours in an over as Australia cruised ahead after seeing past the initial threat.

But against the run of play, Labuschagne ended up cutting a delivery from Nitish Reddy to Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully. But his departure on 68 did not dent Australia much as Head marched on, getting to his fifth Test fifty against India and second on the trot in the series. It also ensured that Australia took the lead in the first session.

India had a close LBW call against Mitchell Marsh turned down on review with the third umpire controversially deeming that there was no conclusive evidence if Ashwin’s ball had struck the pad or bat first. More replays shown by the broadcaster were indicative of the ball striking pad first but India ended up losing the review, capping off a frustrating morning session which was only exacerbated in the next.

Brief Scores: India 180 (Nitish Reddy 42; Mitchell Starc 6-48) trail Australia 332/8 (Travis Head 140, Marnus Labuschagne 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-59) by 152 runs