Nathan Lyon turns first Test on its head with brilliant spell

Australia were staring down the barrel of a massive chase to win the first Test, before Nathan Lyon sparked a big Indian collapse.

Australia will set an Adelaide Oval record if they manage to win the first Test against India, having been set a target of 323 for victory.

However it looked like it would have been a lot more.

The tourists resumed their second innings at 3-151 on Sunday then enjoyed a productive opening session, underlined by Cheteshwar Pujara’s and Ajinkya Rahane’s 87-run stand.

But Virat Kohli’s team were rolled for 307 after losing 7-73 either side of lunch, notably adding a mere 25 runs for their final five wickets.

Nathan Lyon bowled well and grabbed 6-122 but India’s prospects of recording their first Test win in Australia since 2008, and striking an almighty blow as they hunt a maiden Test series win in Australia, remain strong.

The highest successful run chase in a Test at the venue is Australia’s 6-315, achieved in 1902 against England, while no side has chased down more than 236 since West Indies in 1982.

Australia’s batting coach Graeme Hick, speaking before day four started, admitted the pitch is one “where you’re never in”.

“It’s going to be tough … more than 250 I feel we’d be looking for a couple of heroes,” Hick conceded to SEN.

The target would have been even more immense if not for Lyon, who claimed the prized scalps of Kohli and Pujara then was later on a hat-rick when he removed Rahane and Mohammed Shami.

But the offspinner’s haul is unlikely to be a source of confidence for Australia’s inexperienced batsmen, especially the left-handers, given he was zeroing in on the same rough that counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin will soon delight in.

Pujara backed up his first-innings ton with a knock of 71, remarkably spending 11 hours batting in the low-scoring contest.

Rishabh Pant helped himself to 18 runs off the first over after lunch, delivered by Lyon, but went down swinging to the next delivery he faced from the tweaker.

HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL RUN CHASES IN ADELAIDE OVAL TESTS:

6-315 by Australia to beat England, 1902

5-239 by West Indies to beat Australia, 1982

4-233 by West Indies to defeat Australia, 1951

6-233 by India to defeat Australia, 2003

HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL RUN CHASES IN TEST CRICKET:

7-418 by West Indies to beat Australia at St John’s, 2003

4-414 by South Africa against Australia at WACA Ground, 2008

4-406 by India to beat West Indies at Port of Spain, 1976

3-404 by Australia to beat England at Headingly, 1948

HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL RUN CHASES IN AUSTRALIA:

6-369 by Australia to beat Pakistan at Bellerive Oval, 1999

8-342 by Australia to beat India at WACA Ground, 1977

7-332 by England to beat Australia at MCG, 1928

6-315 by Australia to beat England at Adelaide Oval, 1902

with AAP