PIX: Axar, Ashwin lead India's fightback after Lyon's five-for

Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and Australia, at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi, on Saturday.

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Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin led India’s fightback after a top-order collapse against off-spinner Nathan Lyon's spin masterclass with a 114-run partnership before Australia ended the first innings for 262 on dramatic second day in the second Test, at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi, on Saturday.

Axar (74 off 115) led the recovery after India were in a spot at 139 for 7, scoring a boundary-laden half century. The all-rounder smacked as many as nine fours and three sixes.

He was aptly complemented by Ashwin (37 off 71) as the duo looked set to give India the lead.

However, a Pat Cummins’s strike tilted the match Australia's way as Ashwin was caught by Matthew Renshaw.

An over later Axar too perished followed by Mohammed Shami (1) as India finished one run short of Australia’s first innings total.

The visitors were 61 for 1 in the second innings when stumps were called, with Travis Head (batting 39), opening the innings for a concussed David Warner, and Marnus Labuschagne (batting 16) were at the crease.

Both attacked the Indian spinners, knowing that defending wasn't an option.

Shreyas Iyer completed a stellar catch as Usman Khawaja (6) was sent back by Ravindra Jadeja (1/23).

Earlier, India scored freely after tea, with 43 runs coming from 12 overs after the break.

Axar swung Kuhnemann high over mid-wicket for a six to race to his fifty off 94 balls. His second fifty in a row helped India launch a great fightback.

A beautiful drive by Axar off Cummins through the covers for four followed by another boundary raised the 100-run partnership for the eighth wicket between him and Ashwin.

India scored 73 runs in 18 overs in the post-tea session.

The new ball did the trick for Australia as Cummins struck with the wicket of Ashwin, who flicked uppishly only to see Matt Renshaw come up with a sharp catch at square leg, lunging full length to his right.

Ashwin returned to the pavilion after a good hand of 37, having put on 114 runs for the eighth wicket with Axar.

Axar then departed. He slog-swept the last ball of Murphy's over, but Cummins took a stunner at mid-on, flinging himself to his right to grab the powerfully hit shot.

Axar walked back to a standing ovation after a cracking knock of 74 from 115 balls, having hit nine fours and three sixes.

Kuhnemann returned to the attack and ended India’s innings, dismissing Shami, who was beaten by the yorker and bowled for 2.

India were dismissed for 262 in 83.3 overs, giving Australia get a one-run first innings lead.

Morning session:

Nathan Lyon took four wickets for 19 runs to give Australia the upper hand in the morning session as India struggled to 88 for 4 at lunch, with Virat Kohli unbeaten on 14 and Ravindra Jadeja on 15.

They trail Australia by 175 runs.

Lyon ran through the top order as India lost four wickets for 67 runs in 26 overs.

Opener KL Rahul's poor run with the bat continued as he fell leg before wicket to Lyon for 17. He had a chat with his captain before deciding to take the review.

Rahul came forward to defend against Lyon, but was beaten by the turn and struck in front. The ball was clipping the leg stump as the umpire's decision stayed.

The off-spinner then bowled Rohit Sharma for 32. India’s skipper, who was looking good for a big score, misjudged the length and looked back to see his stumps rattled.

Rohit was caught in no-man's land, unsure about his footwork, whether to go forward or go back. He played all over a straight delivery from the crease, trying to clip it across the line but missed it and was bowled.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who walked in to bat amid much fanfare and a 20,000-plus Kotla crowd chanting his name, fell for a duck in his 100th Test, out leg before wicket to Lyon on the review.

Lyon had his huge appeal for leg before turned down. The Australians though believed it was pad first and had no hesitation in taking the review, even though they had only one left.

It was clearly pad first, as confirmed by the UltraEdge. The ball struck in line and was going on to hit leg stump.

The decision was overturned and Pujara walked back for a duck.

Pujara had a 'life' earlier, as Australia did not take the review, but couldn't make most of the reprieve.

Shreyas Iyer then perished, brilliantly caught by Peter Handscomb at short leg off Lyon.

The ball was clipped off the middle to short leg, and the fielder showed great reflexes, grabbling it on second attempt.

Shreyas was out for 4 and India were reduced to 66 for 4 in the 26th over, Lyon taking all four wickets.

Post-Lunch session:

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon dragged Australia back into the contest, claiming five wickets to reduce the hosts to 179 for 7 at tea. 

At the break, Axar Patel was unbeaten on 28 from 47 balls with Ravichandran Ashwin on 11. The duo added 40 runs for the eighth wicket.

Having bowled Australia out for 263 on Friday, India appeared to have taken the upper hand in the contest but Lyon (5 for 40) wrecked their top order and put the pressure back on the home side.

Virat Kohli (44 off 84 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 74 balls) steadied India in the post-lunch session by adding 59 runs for the fifth wicket but Todd Murphy (1/37 in 14 overs), in his second Test, and debutant left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann (1/64 in 20 overs) dismissed the duo in quick succession to put the visitors on top.

Soon after lunch Murphy took his first wicket of the match, trapping Jadeja leg before. The batter took the review, which showed there was no bat involved, the impact in line and the ball crashing into the middle stump. The original decision stayed.

Jadeja walked back after scoring 26 and India were reduced to 125 for 5, still trailing Australia by 138 runs.

Kuhnemann then got his first Test wicket, having Kohli out leg before wicket for 44. The batter immediately took the review.

It was quite tough for the TV umpire, as the ball appeared to hit bat and pad at the same time. However, he ruled it was pad first and the ball clipping leg stump. Which meant the umpire's call stood.

India were down to 135 for 6 in the 50th over and Australia in control, looking set for a sizeable first innings lead.

Lyon returned to the attack in the 50th over and picked his fifth wicket of the match.

Srikar Bharat (6) reverse swept the second ball of the over fine on the off-side for a four but perished a few balls later trying the conventional sweep.

The ball went off the gloves and Steven Smith took an easy catch behind the wicketkeeper.

At that stage India were 139 for 7 in 51 overs, behind Australia by 124 runs, but Axar and Ashwin, batting on 28 and 11 respectively, produced up stubborn resistance in a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket to see the home side to tea without further loss.

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