Nathan Lyon was once again Australia’s top bowler as the veteran spinner finished an outstanding eight-wicket haul to give his team the upper hand against India in the third Test match, which was played on Thursday in Indore. In the second innings, Lyon was ultimately responsible for the dismissals of India captain Rohit Sharma (12), Cheteshwar Pujara (59), Ravindra Jadeja (7), Srikar Bharat (3), Ravichandran Ashwin (16), Umesh Yadav (0), and Mohammed Siraj (0). As a result, he passed Indian icon Anil Kumble to become the Test match’s leading wicket-taker against Australia. With Umesh’s wicket, Lyon not only surpassed Kumble’s mark but also set a new Test cricket record for spinner success versus India. After the dismissal of Gill, Lyon passed Muttiah Muralitharan, a legend of Sri Lanka, to reach the enormous milestone.
Lyon’s eight wickets on Thursday gave Australia a chance to win the third Test against India, assuming they can avoid another disastrous batting collapse.
Australia’s batting collapsed on a thrilling day two in Indore, but the visitors fought back and bowled out India for 163, setting them a winning target of 76.
The game’s highest scorer, Cheteshwar Pujara, hit 59 and was beautifully taken at slip by Australia’s skipper Steve Smith. On a dangerous spinning pitch, Lyon recorded figures of 8-64.
Australia opened the day on 156-4 after dismissing India for just 109 runs on day one. But, before lunch, they were all out for 197 runs, their last six wickets falling for just 11 runs.
On a pitch with uncertain bounce, Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb did well to make it through the first hour. The towering Green used his lengthy stride to stop India’s spin onslaught.
But, following the break for drinks, Handscomb left for 19, caught by Shreyas Iyer off Ravichandran Ashwin at short leg, having increased his overnight total by 12.
Following Green’s quick demise for 21, Umesh Yadav bowled Mitchell Starc for one, sending the left-off-stump hander’s careening in the direction of wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.
Then, in a dizzying collapse, Ashwin dismissed Nathan Lyon for five runs, Todd Murphy was bowled for a duck by seamer Umesh, and Alex Carey was out for three runs.
Umesh recorded 3-12 and Ashwin 3-44.
India saw their opportunity and openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill made it through a challenging ten minutes before to lunch.
Nevertheless, Gill was bowled middle stump for five runs by Lyon after being outspun while attempting to hit across the line.
Lyon then caught skipper Rohit lbw for 12.
As Matthew Kuhnemann got five wickets in the first innings, Virat Kohli attempted to match him by cutting the spinner for a beautiful four, only to be caught lbw for 13 on the next ball.
The boisterous Indore stadium became silent as a result, but Pujara gave the home crowd something to cheer about by cutting the gap by slamming Kuhnemann for a string of boundaries.
Lyon, however, proved to be a challenge, especially for Ravindra Jadeja, who was out lbw for seven just before halftime, leaving India in disarray.
Iyer scored an exciting 26 during the last session, including two sixes, before being beautifully caught by Usman Khawaja off Starc at short midwicket.
Lyon dismissed Bharat for three runs, and Ashwin was out for 16, lbw to Lyon for his sixth victim, helping Australia successfully appeal a not-out ruling.
When Pujara was on 50, Marnus Labuschagne dropped him off Kuhnemann by diving to his left at short cover and attempting to catch the ball with both hands but failing to do so.
Before Australian skipper Smith made a spectacular diving catch to his right at slip off Lyon’s bowling, Pujara continued to struggle and put the Australians through a lot of strain.
Umesh was ruled out lbw by Lyon on the very next ball but was awarded a reprieve after review. Umesh struggled to the boundary with the next ball, when he was caught by Green just inside the rope.
Soon after, Mohammed Siraj was clean bowled by Lyon, giving the Aussie his eighth victim and the unfortunate Indian number 11 his second duck of the game.
