Bengaluru: On a pitch that would normally be ideal to bat in the first two days, batting first, India suffered another batting debacle to be bundled out for 189 on the first day of the second cricket Test against Australia.
After Steve O’Keefe’s 12-wicket haul in Pune, it was senior-pro Lyon’s turn to torment the Indian batsmen and he recorded the best bowling figures in an innings by an overseas bowler and surpassed Brett Lee to become Australia’s highest wicket-taker against India in Test matches.
Knocking off Abhinav Mukund (0) inside the first hour of play was surely a start Australia would have expected, but the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara (17), at the stroke of lunch, and then Virat Kohli (12) and Ajinkya Rahane (17) in the second session proved that the Australians were exploiting the Pune momentum to the hilt.
That momentum continued to rock the hosts as India lost their last five wickets for just 33 runs. KL Rahul was the lone bright spot in the Indian batting order battling his way to 205-ball 90.
At stumps, Australia were comfortably placed at 40 for no loss. David Warner and Matt Renshaw were batting on 23 and 15 respectively.