India vs Australia: Nathan Lyon creates history, Pips Anil Kumble claims big feat

Nathan Lyon was once again the pick of the bowlers for Australia as the veteran spinner took a brilliant eight-wicket haul to give his team an edge against India in the third Test in Indore on Thursday. Lyon dismissed India captain Rohit Sharma (12), Cheteshwar Pujara (59), Ravindra Jadeja (7), Srikar Bharat (3), Ravichandran Ashwin (16), Umesh Yadav (0) and Mohammed Siraj (0). Turn. As a result, he surpassed Indian legend Anil Kumble as the highest wicket-taker in India-Australia Test matches. Lyon broke Kumble’s record by taking the wicket of Umesh and in the process also became the most successful spinner against India in Test cricket. With the wicket of Gill, Lyon overtook Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan and added a massive milestone to his name.

Lyon took eight wickets on Thursday to give Australia a glimmer of hope of beating India in the third Test – provided they can avoid another disastrous batting collapse.

In dramatic fashion on the second day in Indore, Australia’s batting collapsed only for the tourists to fight back and bowl India out for 163, setting them a 76-run victory target.

Cheteshwar Pujara top-scored with 59, Australia captain Steve Smith brilliantly caught in the slips, with Lyon taking figures of 8-64 on a treacherous spinning wicket.

After bowling India out for just 109 on the first day, Australia resumed on 156–4, but were all out for 197 before lunch, their last six wickets falling for just 11 runs.

Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb did well to survive the first hour on an unpredictable bouncy pitch, with the tall Green using his long stride to neutralize India’s spin attack.

But after the drinks break, Handscomb went for 19, caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at short leg to Shreyas Iyer, who added 12 runs to his night’s score.

Soon after Green fell for 21, lbw by Umesh Yadav, who then bowled Mitchell Starc for one, sending the left-hander’s off stump cartwheeling towards wicket-keeper Shrikar Bharat.

In a dizzying disintegration, Alex Carey then went for three, lbw to Ashwin, seamer Umesh bowled Todd Murphy for a duck and Nathan Lyon was clean bowled by Ashwin for five.

Ashwin took 3-44 and Umesh took 3-12.

India seized their opportunity and openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill barely survived 10 minutes before lunch.

But after the break, Gill was beaten to spin as he tried to hit across the line and was thrown to the middle stump by Lyon for five.

After this, Leone got Captain Rohit lbw for 12 runs.

Virat Kohli looked to counter first-innings five-wicket hauler Matthew Kuhnmann, who cut the spinner for a fine boundary, only to be trapped leg before next ball for 13.

It sent silence around the rowdy Indore ground but Pujara gave the home crowd something to cheer, reducing the deficit by smashing Kuhnmann for a succession of boundaries.

Lyon however proved a handful, especially for Ravindra Jadeja, who was lbw for seven just before the break, leaving India in trouble.

In the final session, Iyer made an entertaining 26 which included two sixes before being brilliantly caught by Usman Khawaja at short midwicket off Starc.

Bharat was bowled by Lyon for three and Ashwin was dismissed for 16, lbw to Lyon for his fifth scalp, Australia successfully overturning a not out decision on review.

Marnus Labuschagne dropped Pujara to Kuhnmann when he was on 50, diving to his left at short cover, got two hands to the ball but failed to hold it.

Pujara fought back, leaving the Aussies hard pressed before skipper Smith took a brilliant diving catch to his right in the slips off Lyon.

On the very next ball, Umesh was lbw to Lyon but was relieved after the review. Umesh then went for the boundary where he was caught inside the rope by Green.

Soon after, Lyon clean bowled Mohammad Siraj to give the Australian his eighth scalp, and the hapless Indian No. 11 made his second duck of the match.

(with AFP inputs)

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