Dharamsala Test Day 2: Lyon’s four keeps Australia afloat

Tags: Australia tour of India,2017, India Vs Australia 4th Test at Dharmasala, Mar 25-29, 2017, India, Australia, Nathan Michael Lyon, Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara

Published on: Mar 26, 2017

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Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon picked up four wickets in the last session of the second day's play as India were restricted to 248 for six during the fourth and final Test at Dharamsala

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon picked up four wickets in the last session of the second day's play as India were restricted to 248 for six during the fourth and final Test at Dharamsala.

At the tea break, India have played themselves into a position of strength at 157 for 2 with Cheteshwar Pujara and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane well set. But Lyon single-handedly brought Australia back in the match, picking up four big and wickets in the final session to finish with impressive figures of 4 for 67.

Lyon dealt a major setback to India in the very first over of the final session, sending back Pujara for 57 having him caught at short-leg. He went on to dismiss Karun Nair, Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin as well as India faltered from a position of strength.

Ravindra Jadeja hit a couple of sixes and was batting on 16 at stumps. Wriddhiman Saha was not out on 10 surviving a few close calls. India ended the day trailing Australia by 52 runs, with only four wickets left in hand.

Following Pujara's dismissal, India pinned their hopes on stand-in skipper Rahane, but he fell to Lyon for 46 with Aussie skipper Steve Smith taking a sharp catch at slip. Karun Nair fell cheaply once again while Ashwin’s promising innings ended on 30 as he was trapped leg-before by Lyon.

Earlier in the day, Josh Hazelwood dismissed Murali Vijay for 11. Lokesh Rahul however went on to compile his fifth fifty of the series. Along with Pujara, he put India in a position of command, before Lyon once again came to the party for the Aussies.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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