While India was bowled out for just 163, giving Australia a target of 76 to secure a famous victory, Nathan Lyon led the way with the ball for Australia, collecting an incredible 8-64, his second-best Test statistics.
Cheteshwar Pujara led the way for India with a masterful performance on a turning field, scoring 59 while pushing India forward despite continuing to lose partners at the other end. Steve Smith's stroke of genius at leg slip put an end to his defiance and capped off a successful day for him as captain.
Smith effectively used his resources to manage the game and continuously adjusting his bowling strategy to prevent the hitters from taking control. With Usman Khawaja taking a brilliant chance at midwicket, his actions paid off when Shreyas Iyer, who had counterattacked with a 27-ball 26 against the spinners, fell as soon as the pacer was introduced.
In the third session, this helped India's momentum a little bit before the lower order gave in to a ferocious turner. The innings ended in a startlingly similar manner to how it began, with Mohammad Siraj swinging recklessly against Lyon to be bowled.
Similar to how it had begun, Lyon had overcome a fiercely swinging Shubman Gill in the first over following lunch. When Rohit Sharma kept Pujara company for 58 balls, he too was out LBW after taking one from Lyon that came through a little too low, and DRS also disregarded his desired call. Virat Kohli had a tense stay in the middle, avoiding a few narrow misses. However, on 13, after slapping a short ball from Matthew Kuhnemann to the cover boundary, he attempted to draw one and was once more trapped LBW. A review helped Lyon end Ravindra Jadeja's tenacious 36-ball stay by putting him out LBW minutes before tea, continuing the trend.
Pujara was able to maintain his confidence throughout by drilling a few drives with his footwork to keep the scoreboard moving and reduce the gap. For a brief while, together with Iyer, India threatened to take a sizable lead, and the No. 3 scored his 35th Test fifty in the process. Nevertheless, Australia's persistently accurate spin bowling brought everything to an abrupt halt.
Australia had earlier in the day concluded with a potentially crucial lead of 88 runs despite a collapse in which they lost their final six wickets for 11 runs.
Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb gave Australia a comfortable first hour by starting the day with a lead of 47. After Mohammed Siraj's brief spell in that hour, India decided to begin with their two left-arm spinners, but it did not have the desired effect.
In that hour, Handscomb and Green added 30 priceless runs while grounding out the attack while using their long reaches to smother the spin and defend securely.
Nevertheless, after R Ashwin and Umesh Yadav began collaborating in the second hour, things took a dramatic turn. The first wicket was taken by Ashwin, who caught Handscomb at short leg to end a staunch partnership totalling 40 runs in 134 balls.
The batter reviewed the LBW call that Umesh received after hitting Green on the back foot, and it was narrowly upheld. Umesh sent the stumps flying to send back Todd Murphy and Mitchell Starc, while Ashwin cleaned up Lyon who missed a massive sweep. This was followed by a demolition job on the tail.
Australia's collapse, which saw them lose six wickets in less than 30 minutes, gave India a small window of opportunity, but Lyon and company made sure there was no respite.
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