Lyon leaves Aussies simple equation for victory
A BRILLIANT spell of bowling by Nathan Lyon has seen Australia set up a straightforward equation for victory in the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test. The prolific off-spinner took 8-64 to help dismiss India for 163 in its second innings at Holkar Stadium, setting the tourists 76 runs to win at the close of day two.
Having started the day’s play in a commanding position at 4-156, 47 runs ahead of India, Australia was put to the sword in a half-hour which yielded 6-11 in just 34 deliveries. Suddenly, the visitors were all out for 197 and failed to boost their lead into triple-figure range. Paceman Umesh Yadav (3-12) sent stumps flying and Ravichandran Ashwin (3-44) joined the party of an all-time batting collapse.
With Australia’s commanding position seemingly thrown away, Lyon went to work and wrestled back momentum. He removed both openers and the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja before tea to leave India teetering at 4-79, still eight runs in arrears.
The hosts hit the front in the second over post-break as Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer (26 off 27) enacted a counterattack, but it ground to an abrupt halt when Steve Smith swung a shrewd bowling change and had Mitchell Starc remove the latter, via Usman Khawaja‘s diving effort at midwicket.
In the face of continued questionable umpiring, which was duly overturned by the decision review system, Lyon snared his fifth wicket by trapping Ashwin in front. Soon after, the great wall of Pujara was finally knocked over to make it six, as Smith took a screamer in leg slip.
The tail offered little resistance and number 11 Mohammed Siraj again threw away his wicket to end India’s innings, all out for 163. That brought about the close of play, with Australia requiring 76 runs on what will inevitably be a nervy day three chase in Indore.
SCORECARD
INDIA 109 (33.2)
Virat Kohli 22 (52), Shubman Gill 21 (18), Srikar Bharat 17 (30)
Matt Kuhnemann 5-16 (9), Nathan Lyon 3-35 (11.2), Todd Murphy 1-23 (6)
AUSTRALIA 197 (76.3)
Usman Khawaja 60 (147), Marnus Labuschagne 31 (91), Steve Smith 26 (38)
Ravindra Jadeja 4-78 (32), Umesh Yadav 3-12 (5), Ravichandran Ashwin 3-44 (20.3)
Australia led by 88 runs.
INDIA 163 (60.3)
Cheteshwar Pujara 59 (142), Shreyas Iyer 26 (27), Ravichandran Ashwin 16 (28)
Nathan Lyon 8-64 (23.3), Mitchell Starc 1-14 (7), Matt Kuhnemann 1-60 (16)
Australia needs 76 runs to win with 10 wickets remaining.
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