Australia has enjoyed its best day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, but the drama-packed second Test against India remains in the balance after a rollercoaster three sessions.
The tourists have a lead of 62 after going to stumps at 1-61, losing Usman Khawja (6) when forced to bat for a tricky 13 overs under lights at Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi.
The loss of Khawaja is a blow but Australia went about quickly extending its one-run first-innings advantage in attacking fashion to shock India's bowlers.
The recalled Travis Head (39 not out off 40 balls) opened with Khawaja, filling in for veteran David Warner, who was subbed out of the match before play on Saturday with concussion.
Warner was replaced in the XI by Matt Renshaw, who is expected to bat at number five.
Head was controversially dropped for the opening Test defeat in Nagpur based on his poor record in Asia but looked at home batting at the top of the order, playing aggressively like he does in Australian conditions.
Head will resume batting with star number three Marnus Labuschange on Sunday as Australia attempt to further press its advantage in trying to level the series at 1-1.
But the undisputed star of the day for Australia was Nathan Lyon, who delivered one of the finest performances of his 117-Test career to finish with 5-67.
Lyon looked out-of-sorts during the first Test in Nagpur, going for 1-126 and was overshadowed by 22-year-old debutant spinner Todd Murphy.
But the 36-year-old could not have responded any better in the Indian capital, bowling with accuracy on a bouncy, turning wicket.
After taking 4-13 during a masterful spell in the morning session, Lyon picked up India wicketkeeper KS Bharat (6) to bring up his 22nd five-wicket Test haul.
For the second Test in a row though, an Australian debutant took the prized wicket of Virat Kohli (44).
Queensland left-armer Matt Kuhnemann (2-72) broke through for his first Test scalp after umpire Nitin Menon gave Kohli out LBW.
Kohli reviewed the decision, but after a lengthy review, third umpire Richard Illingworth stuck with the on-field decision, much to the displeasure of the 34-year-old and his army of fans.
India slumped to 7-139 and appeared to be crashing to a dire position but bowling all-rounders Axar Patel (74) and Ravichandran Ashwin (37) rescued the hosts out of trouble.
Patel and Ashwin put on a 114-run partnership, the third-highest eighth-wicket stand by an Indian pair against Australia.
It took some catching brilliance from Renshaw and Pat Cummins to remove Patel and Ashwin after the dangerous pair got the home crowd back into the match.
But by the end of the play, the Indian fans were as quiet as they have been all series as Head smashed their heroes to all parts of the ground.
AAP
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key events
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Live updates
I reckon it'll be worth tuning in tomorrow...
By Simon Smale
Thanks Simon, I'll probably watch tomorrow :)
- Mike
You and me both, Mike.
What a day of cricket.
I think you'd be hard pushed to find a match as delicately poised as that down the stretch.
What a terrific Test match.
I hope to see everyone back tomorrow.
Doesn't Renshaw have to open if he's Warner's replacement?
By Simon Smale
If Renshaw is Warner’s concussion replacement, shouldn’t he have been made to open?
- Mike
Hi Mike, that's a good question but I believe the answer is no.
The rule says the following.
The Match Referee and/or umpires may accept a Concussion Replacement on a conditional basis, for example an all-rounder replacing a batsman on the condition that the Concussion Replacement does not bowl spin or does not bowl at all.
So Renshaw can replace Warner as a batter, and given Warner is not likely to bowl, Renshaw can't either.
However, as batting orders are flexible for all sorts of reasons, they can't mandate where he bats in the line up.
Something on your mind, Virat Kohli?
By Simon Smale
Why was Head dropped?
By Simon Smale
Remind me, why was Head dropped?
- Tosh
Whatever the selectors had thought, they were clearing wrong heading into that first Test.
He was excellent just then in that session, exactly what Australia needed at exactly the right time.
I couldn't agree more
By Simon Smale
There is an old saying 'in a tight match, every run is gold'. Never a truer word was spoken.
- Linda
Who'd bet against a tie?
By Simon Smale
What's that chances of a tied test 😀
- Jeff
Stumps: Australia 1-61 (Head 39, Labuschagne 16)
By Simon Smale
Well, what a terrific day of Test cricket.
This is a titanic tussle that means this Test is poised on a knife edge.
Australia might have wanted to have a bigger lead at one point earlier on today - and were in a great position to earn that solid lead as well thanks to a superb bowling performance from Nathan Lyon.
And yet India fought back, Axar Patel at the lead, scoring a tremendous 74 to get India to within one run of Australia's first innings total.
But then, with the momentum with India, Australia came back and wrested it back thanks to a man who was supposed to be too bad against spin to even warrant a place in the side, Travis Head, whose 40-ball 39 helped Australia to its 62-run lead at the close.
Terrific entertainment, more proof that this is the very best form of the game.
And boy do we have a game on our hands here.
12th over - Axar Patel will bowl what could be the last of the day
By Simon Smale
His innings has kept India in the game.
Can he translate that confidence with that bat to this over with the ball?
Full, Labuschagne pushes into the off side for a single to deep cover.
Full, from around the wicket, drifting away, Head defends into the off side.
Leg stump now, Head defends there too.
Short leg and one slip in place, Head plays the ball to backward square leg for a single.
Marnus is back defending in his crease, a bit of low bounce there.
Labuschagne defends into the off side.
11th over - Ashwin will keep on coming
By Simon Smale
Head is on 34 from 31 balls.
Five minutes remaining. Steve Smith is padded up.
Head defends the first.
SIX! HUGE SHOT DOWN THE PITCH! Too full from Ashwin and Head came forward and slammed it into the crowd at deep long on.
"CATCH!" someone screams, as both silly mid off and short cover both dive as the ball passes between them. He takes a single to long off, does Head.
Marnus fends to short midwicket, but "no run, no run," is the call. He then carries on his chat with Virat Kohli, I think. They've been chatting a bit.
Labuschagne defends.
"COME ON!" I think came from Marnus' mouth as he played the shot past the diving fielder at short mid wicket. He gets a single.
10th over - Jadeja will have another
By Simon Smale
Bounce from Jadeja, hitting Head on the hand, he did well to get that hand away and have the ball fall short of leg slip.
FOUR! Incredible inside out shot along the ground from Head to the cover boundary.
Head clips past leg slip for a single.
Jadeja is flying through his overs at the moment.
Big turn from middle to way outside off, Labuschagne jabbed the bat at it for no run to point.
He defends the next back down the pitch.
Inside edgy as Labuschagne pushes and hunches over his bat outside off.
9th over - Ashwin continues
By Simon Smale
Two slips in place, offering their advice to Head, who pushes forward back down the pitch.
Head slams the ball to long off with a neat drive for a single.
One slip, and bat pad now. Marnus defends off the back foot as Ashwin comes around the wicket.
Leading edge from Marnus, who charged a bit there, he gets a single to cover point.
Good shape from Ashwin, Head gets forward and crouches to defend.
Head clips off his pads for a single to backward square leg to end the over.
8th over - Jadeja continues
By Simon Smale
CLOSE! Head gets a single to the leg side but was not in control.
"Waiting, waiting, waiting," says Labuschagne, after playing into the off side.
FOUR! Glorious from Labuschange! A sweep to the midwicket boundary, a one-bounce four, the crowd and close fielders are silenced.
Labuschange has to dif the next one out.
FOUR! Now Marnus cuts again and Rahul should have done better on the rope, he slid with the ball but just slapped it over the rope instead of back into the field of play. Slapstick fielding from some of the Indians at the moment.
FOUR! Another slog sweep to midwicket and another boundary.
SOMEONE CALL ENGLAND - THE AUSSIES HAVE STOLEN BAZ BALL!
7th over - Ashwin continues
By Simon Smale
Oh there's a lot of talking doing on out there.
Travis Head ignores it after firing a few words back and pushes to mid off for a single.
A little dab into the on side by Marnus, to square leg, for a single.
Two slips and catching silly mid off in place.
FOUR! Lovely swing of the bat, slightly overpitched and Head makes no mistake.
An outside edge there, Head decides against a run.
Now he drives to long off for another single, he didn't get right to the pitch there, and there was turn off an explosion of dust, but Head got the shot away as Marnus has a chat at the strikers end now.
Around the wicket, Ashwin pushes one across Marnus' bows and almost finds the edge.
6th over - Labuschagne is the new man
By Simon Smale
Lots of whooping and hollering by the close fielders as Marnus takes his guard.
And then just as much when he pushes forward and plays the ball back down the pitch to end the over.
KHAWAJA IS OUT!
By Simon Smale
Khawaja attempted a paddle sweep but slaps the ball straight to Shreyas Iyer at leg slip!
A sharp catch, sure, but it's a poor shot to play.
Khawaja is out for 6.
KHAWAJA GOES!
A dab sweep from Khawaja goes straight to Shreyas Iyer at leg slip!
6th over - Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack
By Simon Smale
Head comes forward down the pitch and clips to short mid on, where Pujara makes a diving stop, to the delight of the crowd.
Head defends the next down the pitch, and then gets a leading edge to mid off where Ashwin dives to stop the ball. Only a single.
It's a real ODI feel at the moment.
FOUR! Slog sweep from Khawaja, KL Rahul was out there and didn't pick the ball up, consternation in the crowd.
5th over - Ashwin again
By Simon Smale
Khawaja takes a single first ball to get off strike.
BEATEN! What a ball, Head played down the inside line and Ashwin gets the ball to grip and turn and bite and beat the outside edge.
Head drives to Ashwin a couple of times, both times the bowler fields.
FOUR! Head somehow clips that to fine leg on the walk, it looked a bit untidy but was actually a nice shot on the walk in the end.
EDGED! Past first slip though and down to third man, he'll take a single.
Good start, albeit streaky at times, for Australia.
4th over - Shami to Head
By Simon Smale
FOUR! Head hooks and that's four. Well played, controlled, from outside off, a swivel on the toes, great hands. Great shot.
He defends the next.
FOUR! Just a push into the off side, a lovely shot through the covers and Siraj should have done better there on the boundary.
Head pushes again to extra cover, this time picking out the fielder. And again.
Good bowling, good batting.
