Labuschagne and Head half-centuries propel Australia to a narrow lead in Adelaide cricket Test

On December 7, Jasprit Bumrah made an impact by taking two wickets with the pink ball. However, strong performances from Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head helped Australia surpass India's first-innings total, reaching 191-4 on the second day of the day-night second test.

Australia were sitting pretty with an 11-run lead over India's 180 at the first break at Adelaide Oval after Head had led the charge with a belligerent 53 not out, which included two sixes off Ravichandran Ashwin.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was batting on two at the other end as Australia looked to build a solid platform for a series-levelling victory.

Australia resumed on 86-1 but Bumrah, chief architect of India's comprehensive win in the series opener in Perth, ensured the tourists did not have to wait long for a breakthrough.

Opener Nathan McSweeney, playing only his second test, added just one run to his overnight score before edging Bumrah behind for 39.

The crafty seamer also dismissed Steve Smith for two, strangling the out-of-form batter down the leg side with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant taking a diving catch.

Labuschagne understandably kept his head down and collected runs without courting risks en route to only his second half-century in his last 11 test innings.

Head, coming in at the other end, was more assertive and hit off-spinner Ashwin over the mid-off ropes for his second boundary.

That approach appeared to rub off on Labuschagne, who proceeded to smash seamer Harshit Rana for three fours in the space of four balls.

Nitish Kumar Reddy broke their 65-run stand when Labuschagne, who made 64, cut him to gully where Yashasvi Jaiswal took a sharp catch.

Head could not be contained, though, and the left-hander continued to play his shots on his way to a 63-ball fifty.

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