AGENCIES

Two jaw-dropping catches and one of Nathan Lyon’s finest bowling performances have put Australia on the brink of a rare Test victory in India and seen them take prime position to seal a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Lyon pushed through cramps in Indore’s dying light to crack open a gripping Test match played on one of the more vicious surfaces seen in recent times, snagging the second-best figures of his career (8-64, behind only his 8-50 in Bangalore in 2017) in what is shaping as a low-scoring thriller.

With Australia needing a win in either of the last two Tests of this series to seal their spot in the WTC decider later this year, the 35-year-old’s tireless spell has set up a tense final-day run chase of 76 for the visitors.

Cheteshwar Pujara top-scored with 59, caught brilliantly at slip by Australia captain Steve Smith, with Lyon taking figures of 8-64 on a treacherous spinning wicket.

Having skittled India for just 109 on day one, Australia resumed on 156-4 but collapsed to 197 all out before lunch, their last six wickets tumbling for just 11 runs.

India sensed their chance and openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill survived a tricky 10 minutes before lunch.

But after the break, Gill was beaten for spin as he tried to go down the track against Lyon and was bowled for five, before the spinner trapped skipper Rohit for 12.

Virat Kohli looked to take on Matthew Kuhnemann, who took five wickets in the first innings, cutting the spinner for a glorious four, only to be dismissed lbw the following ball for 13.

This sent a hush around the rowdy Indore ground but Pujara gave the home crowd something to cheer about, reducing the deficit by smashing Kuhnemann for a succession of boundaries.

Lyon though proved a handful, particularly for Ravindra Jadeja, who was out lbw for seven just before the break to leave India reeling.

In the final session, Iyer made an entertaining 26 that included two sixes before an excellent catch by Usman Khawaja at short midwicket off Starc.

Bharat was bowled by Lyon for three and Ashwin fell for 16, lbw to Lyon for his fifth scalp.

Pujara made the Australians work hard before captain Smith took a diving catch to his right at slip off the bowling of Lyon.

The very next ball Umesh was given out lbw off Lyon but was reprieved on review. The ball after that, Umesh slogged to the boundary -- where he was caught just inside the rope by Green.

Soon afterwards, Lyon clean-bowled Mohammed Siraj to give the Australian his eighth scalp, and the hapless Indian number 11 his second duck of the match.

Lyon said his performance was “up there as one of my career highlights” but that he was “more proud about our group”.

“Personal success is great to have but after (the second Test defeat in) Delhi we had a couple of really good days off as a team, and really good conversations at training,” Lyon said.

He also paid tribute to his “very good mate” Smith, who was captaining the side in place of Pat Cummins who went back to Australia to be with his ill mother.

“(Smith) is one of the best batters in the world, especially over the last decade. The way his brain works with cricket tactics provides me with good conversations,” Lyon said.