IND V AUS 2nd Test: Virat and Co. fail yet again; Lyon-led Australia firmly on top

Photo: AP Bengaluru: Off-spinner Nathan Lyon walked into the record books with career-best figures of 8 for 50 as India suffered another batting debacle to be bundled out for a paltry 189 on the first day of the second Test against Australia here. On another dodgy track, India's last five wickets fell for only 15 runs in 9.3 overs after they were 174 for five at one stage. A gritty 90 from opener Lokesh Rahul was the lone bright spot in the embarrassing collapse. At stumps, Australia were comfortably placed at 40 for no loss. David Warner and Matt Renshaw were batting on 23 and 15 respectively. Save Rahul, who once again battled a shoulder niggle to display admirable application, none of the Indian top-order batsmen looked like getting a big score. He batted for 205 deliveries hitting nine boundaries with Karun Nair (26) being the only other batsman to cross an individual score of 20. 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. In the process, he also surpassed Brett Lee to become Australia's highest wicket-taker against India in Test matches. Virat Kohli won a good toss and predictably elected to bat on a track that not only had turn on offer but also appreciable bounce which made Lyon lethal. Also read: Kohli gets out without offering a shot for the second time in a row Comeback-man Abhinav Mukund (0) played across the line to a Mitchell Starc full toss and was adjudged leg before. However, Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara (17) negotiated the new ball well adding 61 runs for the second wicket. Rahul, on the other hand, took risks against the pacers -- Starc and Hazlewood -- getting the first five boundaries in the region between third slip and point. His innings was an example of how to tackle Lyon. There were times he waited for the turn and played late. Just when it looked like India were going into the lunch with only a wicket down, Pujara's unsure foot movement saw him offer a bat-pad catch off a Lyon delivery to Peter Handscomb at forward short-leg and triggered a downslide for India. It became one way traffic as soon as Kohli was out shouldering arms to Lyon. India’s middle order was all at sea against a relentless Lyon. Sensing that he is already running out of partners, Rahul tried to whip Lyon but got a leading edge and simple catch was gobbled by Renshaw standing at mid-off. He was the 9th wicket to fall and Lyon's dream day ended with a eight-for when Ishant's forward defensive prod was taken by an alert Handscomb at forward short leg. When Australia batted, Virat Kohli started with his pacers on a wicket that has shown considerable signs of wear and tear. Neither Ishant Sharma not Umesh Yadav looked menacing as Warner and Renshaw looked comfortable negotiating the two new ball bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled six overs and 26 of his 36 deliveries were dot balls but both openers were comfortable against the Tamil Nadu tweaker. Both have so far hit a boundary each in the 16 overs that they faced during the day. CLICK HERE FOR SCORECARD AND COMMENTARY