Indore: The second day of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy saw Australia tighten their grasp over the game at the back of Nathan Lyon’s epic 8/64. India were bowled out for 163, setting a target of 76 runs. Australia will begin their chase on third day of the Test.
Low bounce and turn became the nemesis for India’s top and middle-order batters, as Rohit Sharma (12), Shubman Gill (5) and Virat Kohli (13) failed to get going in the second innings as well. However, India’s crisis man Pujara stood tall at one end to help India put up an improved show.
Providing him assistance were Shreyas Iyer, who scored a charged-up 26 from 27 balls comprising three fours and two sixes, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored 16 in a 27-run stand for the seventh wicket with Pujara.
Pujara scored 59 from 142, and looked all set to extend India’s lead further before an exceptional take from Steve Smith off Nathan Lyon at leg slip ended his stay.
Lyon’s masterclass in spin accounted for eight India batters on the day. He finished with 11/99 in the game.
This was his 23rd five-for in Tests, and the ninth occasion he has achieved this feat against India.
The off-spinner became the second-highest wicket-taker against India in Tests. With 113 wickets in 25 Tests, he sits only behind England’s James Anderson, who has 139 wickets against India in 35 Tests.
Earlier in the day, Peter Handscomb and Cameron Green saw off the first hour of play with relative ease. The pair looked largely untroubled as they added 30 runs to the overnight total.
India’s comeback began when Iyer took a sharp chance off Handscomb at short leg off Ashwin.
In less than six overs, Ashwin and Umesh Yadav ran through the Australia line-up, taking three wickets each. Australia lost their last six wickets for 11 runs.
Umesh ended with 3/12, and crossed 100 Test wickets in India. He became the 13th bowler to reach this landmark.
