Nathan Lyon’s eight wickets reduced India to 163 runs, Australia’s target of 76 runs

Indore. Despite a half-century from Cheteshwar Pujara, India were bundled out for 163 in the second innings on the second day of the third cricket Test on Thursday in front of the spin magic of Nathan Lyon (eight wickets for 64 runs), setting the target of 76 runs for the visiting team. Australia’s team will now aim to achieve the target on the third day on Friday and ensure a place in the World Test Championship final to be held in June. The Indian batsmen once again struggled on a spin-friendly pitch and apart from Pujara (59 off 142 balls, five fours, one six), no batsman could stand up to Lyon.

Lyon took 11 wickets for 99 runs in the match. Apart from Pujara, only Shreyas Iyer (26) could cross the 20-run mark. The Indian batsmen also had to bear the brunt of poor shot selection while Australia fielded brilliantly. After India were bundled out for just 109 in the first innings on Wednesday, fast bowler Umesh Yadav and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled out Australia for 197 in the first innings on Thursday to revive hopes of a comeback for the hosts. Australia took an 88-run lead. India did not start well in the second innings as well. Shubman Gill (05), who was included in the team in place of Lokesh Rahul, who was struggling with poor form, failed once again and got bowled in an attempt to play Leon’s ball forward.

Lyon then trapped Indian skipper Rohit Sharma (12) leg before, who missed the length completely. Virat Kohli (13) was tripped while trying to play the next ball too far back after hitting left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhneman for a four. Ravindra Jadeja (07) was also lbw to Lyon just before the tea break. The on-field umpire did not give him out but he had to return to the pavilion after Australia resorted to DRS. Pujara, however, stuck to one end. He relied on his defense against the spinners and played some good shots from forward as well as on the backfoot. After tea, Iyer showed aggressive attitude. He hit Kuhneman for sixes in consecutive overs while also hitting Lyon for two consecutive fours.

Iyer, however, played in the air trying to flick the ball to Mitchell Starc and Usman Khawaja took a brilliant catch diving down the left. He scored 26 runs in 27 balls with three fours and two sixes. Shrikar Bharat (03) disappointed once again and was bowled after missing a straight delivery from Lyon, leaving India at 118 for six. At this time the team had a lead of 30 runs. Pujara then took the innings forward with Ashwin. He completed his half-century in 108 balls with a single off Kuhneman.

Pujara was lucky to score 51 runs when Kuhneman’s ball spun outside the off side in the air but Marnus Labuschagne failed to take a difficult catch at extra cover. Ravichandran Ashwin (16) hit a four off Kuhnemann but was trapped leg before by Lyon in the next over to take five or more wickets in an innings for the 23rd time in his career. Pujara was looking solid at the crease but skipper Steve Smith took a brilliant catch at leg slip off Lyon to end his innings. Umesh Yadav (00) was also caught by Cameron Green at deep midwicket boundary in an attempt to hit a six off Leon’s ball.

Axar Patel (15 not out) hit Lyon for a six but the off-spinner ended the Indian innings by lbw to Mohammad Siraj. In the morning session, the pair of Umesh and Ashwin wrapped up the Australian innings. Australia started the day cautiously, adding 30 runs in 16 overs in the first hour without losing any wickets. However, the team then lost the last six wickets for just 11 runs. Umesh (3/12) and Ashwin (3/44) scalped three wickets each in the morning session while Ravindra Jadeja (4/78) took four wickets on the first day. Australia started the day at 156 for four.

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India did not get any wickets in the first hour but Siraj and Jadeja did not allow Peter Handscomb (19) and Cameron Green (21) to score easily. India broke the partnership by dismissing Handscomb, after which it did not take long for Australia’s innings to collapse. Playing with a very defensive attitude, Handscomb handed a catch to Shreyas Iyer at short leg off Ashwin. Ashwin had to wait for almost an hour for his first over of the day but he showed his mettle as soon as he got the ball in hand. After dismissing Handscomb, he also sent Alex Carey (03) and Nathan Lyon (05) to the pavilion. Umesh meanwhile targeted the stumps. He trapped Green lbw in his very first over and then bowled Mitchell Starc (01) and Todd Murphy (00) in successive overs.