Australia's Nathan Lyon turns tables on India

Nathan Lyon dragged Australia back into contention (Getty Images)

An excellent display of spin bowling by Nathan Lyon dragged Australia back into contention in the Fourth and final Test against India here. The off-spinner took 5 for 94 as India closed on 266 for 8, a disappointing effort after they had bowled Australia out for 262.

At 108 without loss the home side's pursuit of a series whitewash looked straightforward, but Lyon ripped through their top order to leave them just four runs ahead going into the third day.

The 25-year-old was fired up after having a leg-before appeal against Cheteshwar Pujara turned down, but he then bowled the opener for 52. He succeeded in trapping Virat Kohli lbw and should have had Sachin Tendulkar in the same fashion as the batsman tried to sweep. However, Lyon secured his wicket eventually, leg before for 32.

Murali Vijay gloved a Peter Siddle bouncer to Matthew Wade behind the stumps on 57. Ajinkya Rahane was caught at leg slip off Lyon, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni went for a rapid 24, caught at slip by Shane Watson off James Pattinson to leave his side in some disarray at 210 for 6.

Ravindra Jadeja (43) and R Ashwin put together a useful stand of 44 before the former fell to the off-spinner Glenn Maxwell, trapped lbw without playing a shot. Ashwin was out to the last ball of the day, giving Lyon his fifth wicket. It had been an impressive turnaround in fortunes for the tourists, who showed an aggressive streak that had been missing from their game recently.

Earlier, Siddle and Pattinson took their ninth-wicket partnership to 54, with Siddle recording his maiden Test half-century. He was then bowled between bat and pad for 51 as Ashwin took his fifth wicket; the off-spinner finished with figures of 5 for 57.

Pattinson (30) was the final wicket to fall, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha picking up his 100th Test wicket in only his 22nd Test.