Australia falls behind in first Test against India
INDIA took control of the first Test against Australia on day three at Chennai yesterday, moving to 6-371 at tea with skipper MS Dhoni unbeaten on 97 off just 116 balls.
Earlier in the day, home fans were denied another Sachin Tendulkar century when the little master was clean bowled by Nathan Lyon for 81.
On a pitch offering genuine assistance to the off-spinner, Lyon landed one on the edge of a footmark outside off the right-hander's off stump.
It turned sharply and took the inside of Tendulkar's bat before brushing leg stump and dislodging the bails.
The wicket brought Dhoni to the middle and he immediately set about gaining the upper hand over Australia's lone spinner, despatching Lyon regularly to the leg side boundary.
The home side had reached 4-266 at lunch with Dhoni on 39 from 51 balls and Virat Kholi on 84.
While Lyon took the only wicket to fall in the morning session, he was also by far the most expensive of the Aussie bowlers, going for almost 4.4 runs an over.
That run rate escalated after lunch when Dhoni in particular took to the Aussie pace bowlers after Michael Clarke elected to take the second new ball.
Lyon was recalled after just seven overs, the decision vindicated when the spinner had Kholi caught by Mitchell Starc at mid-wicket after a 128-run stand.
The only other wicket to fall in the session was Ravindra Jadeja, bowled by James Pattinson for 16.
