Australia vs India 2nd Test Day 3: Australia lead by 175 after Lyon’s five-for

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Nathan Lyon five wickets Australia India 2nd Test Day 3 Perth cricket

Nathan Lyon finished with figures of 5-67 off 34.5 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Australia’s batsmen forged a 175-run lead after spinner Nathan Lyon carved through India’s batting line-up with a five-wicket haul on the third day in Perth.

Starting off the day on 172/3, India were dealt a massive blow on the fourth ball of the day as Ajinkya Rahane was caught behind off the bowling of Lyon for 51, which came off 105 balls and included six boundaries and a six.

India captain Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari made up for loss of Rahane with a 50-run partnership before Vihari was caught behind off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood for 20.

Kohli ended up making 123, which came off 257 deliveries and included 13 boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Peter Handscomb at second slip off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

However, there was controversy surrounding Kohli’s wicket as there were doubts about whether the ball carried to Handscomb. Despite this, the third umpire saw no conclusive evidence to overturn the soft signal and upheld it.

India collapsed after Kohli’s dismissal as Lyon took the last four wickets to see the tourists go from 251/6 to being bowled out for 283, which gave Australia a 43-run lead.

Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc snapped up two wickets apiece. As for Cummins, he chipped in with one.

With a 43-run lead in hand, Australia made a solid start to their innings before opener Aaron Finch retired hurt on 25 after being struck on the right index finger by Mohammed Shami.

Marcus Harris, who opened the batting with Finch, scored 20 before he was clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

Shaun Marsh failed to have much of an impact as he was caught behind off the bowling of Shami for five runs.

Peter Handscomb was the next to go, while Travis Head mustered 19 runs before he was caught by Ishant Sharma at third man off the bowling of Shami.

Usman Khawaja and captain Tim Paine ensured Australia didn’t lose anymore wickets prior to stumps as they amassed an unbeaten 12-run partnership.

Khawaja finished on 41, which came off 102 balls and included five boundaries, while Paine remained undefeated on eight, which came off 26 deliveries and included a boundary.

Shami was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Ishant and Bumrah claimed one wicket each.

Australia ended day three on 132/4 and will continue batting on Monday at 10:20 local time or 02:20 GMT.

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