Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Lyon claimed his fourth five-wicket haul
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon cut England down to their knees on the third day of the fourth Test in Melbourne after taking an exceptional five-wicket haul.
Lyon was well supported by left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson, who chipped in with three wickets.
Starting out the day on 164/9, Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and Lyon were able to amass a vital 40-run partnership, during which Haddin brought up his half-century, before being caught behind off the bowling of James Anderson.
Haddin’s brilliant innings of 65 came off 68 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
Lyon remained undefeated on 18 off 34 balls, which included three boundaries as Australia were bowled out for 204, giving England a 51-run lead.
Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers with four wickets, while Stuart Broad snapped up three, Tim Bresnan claimed two and Ben Stokes chipped in with one.
With a 51-run lead in hand, England got off to a brilliant start as their opening pair of captain Alastair Cook and Michael Carberry put together a 65-run partnership, during which Cook registered his half-century and passed the 8,000 Test run mark, before being given out lbw off the bowling of Johnson.
Cook’s solid innings of 51 came off 64 balls and included seven boundaries.
Carberry only managed to score 12 runs before being given out lbw off the bowling of Peter Siddle.
England found themselves in even more trouble the very next over as Joe Root was run out for 15.
Just two balls later, Ian Bell was on his way back to the pavilion after hitting a delivery from Lyon straight to Johnson at mid-off.
Stokes only managed to to score 19 runs before being caught by Steven Smith at mid-off off the bowling of Lyon.
Jonny Bairstow made 21 runs before being caught behind off the bowling of Johnson.
Bresnan failed to trouble the scorers as he was clean bowled by Lyon.
Just three balls later, Broad was caught by Australia captain Michael Clarke at slip to become Lyon’s 100th Test victim.
Pietersen ended up making 49 before being caught by Ryan Harris at long-off to become Lyon’s fifth victim of the match.
England were eventually bowled out for a dismal 179 when Monty Panesar was given out lbw off the bowling of Johnson.
Panesar reviewed the decision straight away, but the replays showed that there was no inside edge and the ball was going on to hit the stumps, which led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Lyon registered his fourth five-wicket haul, while Johnson snapped up three and Siddle chipped in with one.
Needing 231 runs to win the match, Australia got off to a solid start as their opening pair of Chris Rogers and David Warner put together an unbeaten 30-run partnership before stumps was called.
Warner finished on 12 off 19 balls, which included one boundary, while Rogers remained undefeated on 18 off 29 deliveries, which included one boundary as well.
Australia ended the day on 30/0 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 23:30 GMT (previous day).