IND vs AUS: 3rd Test, Day 2 – Nathan Lyon runs through hosts
Australia had ended Day 1 on a positive note, with a 47-run lead over India in the third Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. While the fans had been anticipating for the visitors to go big on the second day, their batting unit witnessed a collapse, courtesy of the Indian bowlers. Australia continued from 156/4 on Day 2 but could manage to reach only 197, losing six wickets in the first session itself.
Peter Handscomb and Cameron Green, who managed to end the first day on a high note, started off well on Day 2 but had to walk back to the pavilion after Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav picked up their wickets respectively. Umesh, who had bowled just a couple of overs on Day 1, wreaked havoc with the ball and ended up picking three wickets to put an early end to Australia’s first innings.
Lyon skittles India
The middle and lower-order batters managed to compile just 41 runs in the first session. After Jadeja picked up four wickets on the previous day, Ravi Ashwin and Umesh Yadav’s three-wicket hauls got the Indian side back on track. Though the bowlers did a tremendous job, the Indian batters failed to leave an impact in the second innings as well.
Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were dismissed cheaply by Nathan Lyon, and Virat Kohli fell prey to Matthew Kuhnemann. Lyon went on to pick up another five-wicket haul after dismissing Jadeja, Srikar Bharat, and Ashwin. Shreyas Iyer’s quick-fire cameo and Cheteshwar Pujara’s perseverance helped India add runs to the board, but their wickets put curtains on India’s momentum. The Indian side, as a result, was skittled out for 163 runs, setting a 76-run target for Australia to win before stumps.
Talking Points from Day 2 of the 3rd Test:
Umesh Yadav’s fiery spell
The Indian team was put on the backseat after the Australian side took charge on the first day of the third Test. But as they started off the second day’s proceedings on a high note, Umesh Yadav’s spell broke their momentum, eventually leading to the batting unit facing a terrible collapse. He finished with three wickets to his name in the first session.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s composure
The Indian batting unit was put to test yet again as the Australian bowlers kept the hosts on the edge. India had been trailing by 88 runs when they started off the second innings. While most of the batters failed to put up a show, Cheteshwar Pujara stood on the crease like a wall and kept getting the crucial runs for his side. Before being dismissed, he managed to score 59 runs off 142 deliveries.
Nathan Lyon’s dominance
Nathan Lyon was yet again at his best, as he managed to claim another five-wicket haul and finished with eight wickets to his name from the second innings. His victims included Rohit, Gill, Jadeja, Bharat, Ashwin, Pujara, Umesh, and Mohammed Siraj. He continued his good form from the previous day which led to the Indian batting unit witnessing a collapse. On day 2, Lyon managed to register figures of 8/64.
