Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon ripped through India’s batting line-up with seven wickets to not only give his side a 48-run win, but also a 1-0 lead in the series.

However, India stand-in captain Virat Kohli and opener Murali Vijay both deserve a lot of credit as they scored 141 and 99 respectively.

After Australia declared on their overnight score of 290/5, India, who were chasing 364 to win, got off to a terrible start as opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson for nine runs.

However, Dhawan should not have been given out since the ball hit his shoulder instead of the bat.

Cheteshwar Pujara scored 21 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lyon.

Kohli and Vijay steadied the innings with a 185-run partnership, during which Kohli brought up his eighth Test century and Vijay his half-century, before Vijay was given out lbw off the bowling of Lyon just one agonising run short of his century.

Vijay’s fantastic knock of 99 came off 234 balls, which included 10 boundaries and two sixes.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Lyon struck again just five balls later when Ajinkya Rahane was caught by Chris Rogers at short leg for a duck.

However, just like Dhawan, Rahane should not have been given out since the ball only hit his pad.

Rohit Sharma only made six runs before he was caught by David Warner at leg slip off the bowling of Lyon.

Lyon picked up his seventh five-wicket haul when he clean bowled Wriddhiman Saha for 13.

Kohli went on to score a career-best 141, which came off 175 balls and included 16 boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Mitchell Marsh at deep midwicket off the bowling of Lyon.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Mohammed Shami made five runs before he was caught by Johnson at mid-off off the bowling of Ryan Harris.

Varun Aaron mustered one run before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Johnson.

India were bowled out for 315 when Ishant Sharma was stumped by Brad Haddin off the bowling of Lyon.

Lyon was easily the most successful bowler since he took seven wickets, while Johnson snapped up two and Harris claimed one.

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Kohli was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “It was a great game of cricket, I’m proud of the boys, the kind of character they showed in tough situations it was a really good effort. Pretty pleased with the way we played, but Australia did better. I told the guys last night that whatever the target was, we were going to chase it. I believed in my ability. Lyon bowled the ball in the right areas. If me and Vijay added about 40 runs there, the game would have been different. You see one opening and the team capitalises, and that’s what Australia did.

“I was trying to hit it much more in front of square. But it was one of those mistakes I’ll look back and say I could have done better. I was backing myself through the Test and have no regrets. I have to play with passion and commitment and I’d like to congratulate the whole Australia team for actually participating here after all that has happened in the last 10 days.”

Clarke was ecstatic to have won the match, and said: “Fantastic win, some unbelievable performances. That’s as good of a second innings hundred as I’ve seen. Lyon, Smith, Haddin as captain were unbelievable. The boys deserve a lot of credit for trying to win the game. They were willing to lose to win. I thought if India were good enough to make 360, credit to them. But credit to our boys, and our bowlers. Had a scan, the results are not fantastic. [Going to struggle to take any more part in the series?] Probably better off not talking about it, the world is probably sick of seeing me crying on telly. But we did Phillip proud.”

Lyon was named Man of the Match, and said: “Credit goes to the groundsman, he produced a great Test wicket. Last summer’s atmosphere was brilliant. [Umpire Erasmus] We’re going really well, he’s a good umpire, tough decisions out there and I just had to keep asking the question and luckily enough some came in my way. It was Test cricket, always twists and turns and we just had to hang in there. [Kohli and Vijay] They’re unbelievable, they’re superstars, credit goes to them but I’m sticking with Australia. Certainly I believed, it just happened. I’ll keep on believing.”