India vs Australia Highlights, 3rd Test, Day 2: Nathan Lyon Takes 8/64; IND Set AUS 76 to Win

14 wickets fell on Day 1. 16 wickets fell on Day 2. And it’s certain that the third Test between India and Australia will finish inside three days. Why? Because Nathan Lyon took eight wickets in the second innings to bowl out India for 163 runs and limit their lead to 75 runs at the Holkar Stadium. It was yet another day when bowlers ruled the roos. The morning session had a quiet start with overnight batters Peter Handscomb and Cameron Green leading a steady progress. And then R Ashwin made the breakthrough with the scalp of Handscomb following which Australia suffered a spectacular collapse to be bowled out for 197. If it wasn’t for Cheteshwar Pujara, this contest could well have been over today itself. Pujara fought hard and scored a fighting half-century to keep India’s hopes alive for a three-figure target. However, once he departed on 59, those hopes quickly vanished.

WICKET! Nathan Lyon takes his eighth wicket as India have been bowled out for 163 in 60.3 overs. Tossed up from the offie and Mohammed Siraj charges forward. He is beaten on the inside edge as the ball hits the stumps. He goes back for a seven-ball duck. India have a lead of 75 runs.

Axar Patel had no idea where the ball went. He goes for a slog-sweep and immediately looks at Mohammed Siraj telling him he has no clue where the ball has gone. It went over midwicket boundary for a maximum. And then a single brought Mohammed Siraj on strike whose two defensive shots drew wide cheers from the Indore crowd. IND 163/9, lead by 75 runs.

Despite that batting collapse in the morning session, Australia have managed to keep control of this contest. They have reduced India to 156/9 in 58 overs and the lead is just 68 runs. Will Axar Patel go for the big shots now? Looks like the ideal choice.

WICKET! So right after getting the LBW decision reversed, Umesh Yadav goes for a big shot but finds the tallest man in the Australian team patrolling the boundary at midwicket. A slog sweep and Green takes the catch. A two-ball duck for Umesh. A seventh wicket for Nathan Lyon. IND 155/9 in 56.4 overs, lead by 67 runs.

WICKET! That’s a blinder. Steve Smith has produced a magnificent one-handed diving catch at leg-slip to bring an end to Cheteshwar Pujara’s spectacular innings on 59. Pujara wanted to guide it fine and got the connection right but Smith was quick to react as he stretched his right hand to complete an excellent catch. The wicket Australia wanted. Nathan Lyon has six-fer. IND 155/8, lead by 67 runs.

The message has been received. Cheteshwar Pujara steps out and muscles one over deep midwicket for a huge six. Rohit Sharma is smiling now. Superb use of feet from Pujara – a feature of his innings. With that India reach 151/7 in 54.3 overs, lead by 63 runs.

Well, India captain Rohit Sharma has been seen making some gestures from the dressing room. He doesn’t look happy. Probably wants the two in the middle to go for  runs and not just block? Ishan Kishan now sprints to the middle with some message. India 145/7 in 53 overs, lead by 57 runs.

Still 14 overs remaining in the day and Australia will be aiming to wrap up this Indian innings as quickly as possible. India would want to delay that and at the same time, start scoring some runs. This pitch isn’t going to get easier for the batters. India lead by 56 runs with three wickets remaining. The pair of Cheteshwar Pujara and Nathan Lyon is the last hope of Indian team to get the lead to three figures. Can they make it?

WICKET! Another successful review from Australia as Nathan Lyon completes yet another five-wicket haul in Test cricket. R Ashwin came forward for a defensive shot but this one from Lyon turned after pitching. Pad first. A loud appeal but the umpire turned it down. Australia quickly went upstairs and three reds. Ashwin scored 16. IND 140/7 in 48.1 overs, lead by 52 runs.

DROPPED! It was a difficult chance but Australia will feel they have let one slip. Cheteshwar Pujara goes for a cut shot but doesn’t get hold of it and as a result the ball goes towards extra cover region where a diving Marnus Labuschagne fails to hold onto the catch. Would have been a spectacular take had he pulled it off. IND 135/6 in 47.4 overs.

FIFTY! With a single, Cheteshwar Pujara brings up a fighting half-century. 35th such knock of his Test career. He has been the reason why India are still dreaming of a sizeable lead that may put Australia under pressure.

Todd Murphy sort of has taken a backseat after his Nagpur exploits. However, he has been quite accurate in Indore as well. May have not taken a wicket in the second innings yet but has allowed just 13 runs in his nine overs so far. India are 132/6 in 45 overs, lead by 44 runs.

So what will be the ideal target? Well, right now it’s not enough. India are ahead by just 38 runs. They would want at least 110-120 run lead to put Australia in some kind of a pressure. This surface isn’t the easy to bat on. And India spinners will fancy their chances to limit Australia below 100 in the chase. Still a long way to go for India in this Test.

WICKET! India are now six down with a lead of just 30 runs. This one didn’t turn as Srikar Bharat came forward, hoping for it to turn. And it beats his outside edge to crash land on the stumps. Bharat wastes a golden chance to make it count. India 118/6 in 40.1 overs, lead by 30 runs.

WICKET! With spinners taking some punishment, Steve Smith turns to pace in Michell Starc and he provides the breakthrough. Shreyas Iyer flicks one away but fails to keep it down. Usman Khawaja dives and completes a superb catch. End of a brief but entertaining innings from Shreyas who scored 26. IND 113/5 in 37.2 overs, lead by 26 runs.

Australia under the pump. Shreyas Iyer has switched gears. Plenty of dot balls in the previous session but this one has started with a flurry of boundaries. He goes on the backfoot and flicks the first delivery of the over from Matthew Kuhnemann to midwicket region for a four. And when under-pressure Kuhnemann drops it short, Iyer goes rocks back for a pull shot to send the ball flying over midwicket region for a four. IND 111/4 in 36 overs, lead by 23 runs.