Axar, Ashwin to the rescue as Lyon destroys India’s top order

Aussie off-spinner joins Anderson and Muralitharan with 100 Test wickets against India; Head raises Australia’s hopes with some blistering strokeplay after Khawaja falls early in the second innings

When 302 runs are scored in a day’s play — notably 144 in the post-tea session — the playing surface ceases to be part of any discussion on sub-standard pitches.

Taking the cue from the way Axar Patel and R. Ashwin lifted India from 139 for seven with a 114-run stand to keep India alive in the contest and Travis Head produced some blistering strokeplay, the more accomplished batters in both camps could go beyond the pitch-talk and bat better in the second innings.

As things stand following two days of intense battle in the second Test, Australia stood a run ahead of India in the first innings and then raced away to 61 for the loss of Usman Khawaja’s wicket. With three days to go, Australia leads by 62 runs with nine wickets in hand.

With an evenly-fought first innings out of the way, the match is set to be decided on superior batting performance in the second innings. At one stage, Australia looked well in sight of a 100+ lead but the counter-attack launched by Axar and Ashwin turned the script on its head.

Axar dominated this left-right hammering of the Aussies. The left-hander hit three sixes and nine fours to Ashwin’s five boundaries after only 11 fours and a six were hit before they joined hands.

However, the new ball brought a sudden end to the Indian innings. Just on the threshold of pulling India ahead, both fell to spectacular catches. Matt Renshaw latched on to Ashwin’s glance before Cummins plucked a firmly-hit stroke at mid-on to end Axar’s innings.

On Saturday morning, after Matt Renshaw came in as a concussion substitute for David Warner for the remainder of the Test, Nathan Lyon (five for 67) busted India’s top-order with a four-wicket haul spread over 22 deliveries to pull down the home team from 46 for no loss to 66 for four.