NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin gave a spectacular rearguard response to help India overcome Nathan Lyon’s spin masterclass as the hosts nearly matched Australia’s first-innings 263 on a dramatic day two of the second test yesterday.
Patel smashed 74 and dominated his 114-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ashwin to help India post 262 all out having slumped to 139-7 in the second session.
Australia moved to 61-1 in the final 12 overs of the day though they lost Usman Khawaja, their top scorer in the first innings, to a stunning reflex catch at leg slip by Shreyas Iyer.
Travis Head was batting on a run-a-ball 39 at stumps, with Marnus Labuschagne on 16 at the other end.
Earlier, having bowled out Australia for a modest total on Friday, India were in cruise control at 46 for no loss before Lyon (5-67) turned the match on its head.
The off-spinner mowed down India’s top order to leave them reeling at 66-4.
Australia blew all three reviews inside 25 overs but Lyon, leading the tourists’ three-pronged spin attack, kept chipping away at India’s top order.
The off-spinner trapped KL Rahul lbw for 17 and, two balls later, had a strong lbw appeal against Cheteshwar Pujara turned down.
Pujara could not make the most of the reprieve though as Lyon, in his next over, struck a double blow.
The off-spinner bowled India captain Rohit Sharma (32) and trapped Pujara lbw for a duck in the batsman’s 100th test.
Peter Handscomb took a brilliant catch at short leg to remove Iyer off Lyon.
Virat Kohli (44) combined with Ravindra Jadeja in a 59-run stand to stage a mini-recovery but both fell to spinners in the second session.
Todd Murphy removed Jadeja for 26 but debutant Matt Kuhnemann dealt a bigger blow when he trapped Kohli lbw for his maiden test wicket.
Australia looked poised for a significant first-innings lead but Patel and Ashwin forged the only century-plus partnership of the match to frustrate them.
All-rounder Patel brought up his fifty in style, hitting Kuhnemann over deep mid-wicket for a six.
Cummins dismissed Ashwin for 37 and took a stunning catch at mid-wicket to send back Patel as India were all out for 262.
