Another inspiring spell from spinner Nathan Lyon has Australia poised to break through and defeat India in the third Test in Indore.
Australia will chase just 76 to win on a sharply turning and deteriorating pitch at Holkar Stadium after dismissing the hosts for 163 in their second innings.
Lyon finished with 8-64 to claim the fourth 10-wicket Test match haul of his career after picking up 3-35 in the first innings.
The 35-year-old has fought back in outstanding fashion after a disappointing opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Nagpur when he went for 1-126.
It was Lyon's 23rd five-wicket haul, backing up his 5-67 during the second Test in Delhi when he bowled arguably the best he had in his 118-match career.
India's number three Cheteshwar Pujara, so often Australia's nemesis, was delivering a typically stoic knock to keep India in the contest.
A chase of anything more than 100 was always going to be tricky on a pitch that has already come under intense criticism.
India was fighting hard at 7-155, but Australia took complete control when acting captain Steve Smith hung onto a brilliant catch to dismiss Pujara (59) off Lyon's bowling.
Smith has had troubles with a degenerative back issue this year, putting down a number of catches in slips during this series, but he hung onto a classic.
It would be a famous victory if Australia chase down the runs after it was humiliated in Nagpur and Delhi, falling 0-2 behind in the series, and captain Pat Cummins returned to Sydney to be with his ill mother.
After starting day two with a lead of 47 and six wickets still in hand, Australia's batting capitulated for the third-straight match to leave the door open for India.
Australia extended its first-innings lead to 88 but produced another monumental collapse to be all-out for 197.
In-form number five Peter Handscomb and all-rounder Cameron Green batted for the entire first hour after the tourists began day two at 4-156.
The watchful pair added another 30 runs to enhance Australia's prospects of securing its first Test victory in India since the opening match of the 2017 series.
However, India came out of the drinks break breathing fire, skittling Australia's brittle tail as the tourists collapsed by losing 6-11 in 35 minutes.
After being rolled for just 109 on Wednesday when it won the toss and elected to bat first, India batted for about 15 minutes before lunch and got to 0-13 in its second innings, cutting Australia's lead to 75.
Thursday's collapse brought back memories of Australia's loss to India in Bangalore in 2017 when it fell from 4-101 to 112 all out chasing 188 in the fourth innings.
Australia is coming off its extraordinary collapse in the second Test in Delhi when it capitulated by losing 8-28 in 90 minutes when it was in a winning position.
Umesh Yadav (3-12) claimed the first wicket by a pace bowler in the match when he trapped Green (21) LBW.
Australia's tail then folded meekly just as it did during the first two Tests.
Jadeja finished with 4-78, with all his wickets coming on day one when Usman Khawaja top-scored for Australia with a resilient 60.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key events
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Live updates
That's us signing off
By Simon Smale
OK team, that'll do me for today.
Sorry I didn't get to as many questions throughout the day as I'd like, but it's been a bit mental to be honest.
With 16 wickets falling in the day, 30 across the first two days, this game is racing along to its inevitably day three conclusion.
Which team will come out on top.
I'm not willing to bet, but I think Australia do have their noses in front of they bat well.
We'll find out tomorrow who does come out on top so, until then, catch you then.
Not batting tonight might be a good thing
By Simon Smale
enough time for aus to bat tonight?
- Chris
Aside from the demoralising factor of maybe losing a couple of wickets before the close, I think the crowd would have been right on top of Australia from the get go had they been out there tonight, having been worked into a frenzy this evening.
Can the crowd muster the same enthusiasm so early in the day tomorrow? Remember, it is an early start local time, 9:30am.
Perhaps it might be more sedate. And there might be a smaller crowd too given a result will eventuate around lunch time...
Just a thought.
Where were the GOAT gifs?
By Simon Smale
What, all that and not a flood of goat GIFs in sight? To what depths hath the ABC sunk.
- Llywellyn
If Nathan Lyon took eight wickets in a day and there were no GOAT gifs, did it really happen?
It will be the hardest 76 runs Australia will ever get
By Simon Smale
Wow, what a day (again) 76 will be tough
- Mike
Remember in December when Australia were chasing 35 to beat South Africa at the Gabba on a frightful pitch?
Australia ended up knocking off the runs BUT lost 4 wickets in the process.
I do not expect a 10-wicket victory tomorrow.
The umpires have been overrulled a lot...
By Simon Smale
It seems like there have been a lot of incorrect decisions in this series - is that accurate statistically, or just a misguided hunch of mine?
- Matthew
I don't have any stats to back that up either, but it does seem some absolute howlers have been missed.
I have no idea how some of the LBW decisions have been given not out in this Test so far.
That's the spirit, Steph
By Simon Smale
we can do it Simon! Happy positive thinking. Come on Aussies!
- Steph in Melbourne
It is the hope that kills you...
By Simon Smale
What do they say about hope again?
- Tosh
This is not the right gif, but surely only fools hope when sport is as fickle as it is.
Three of the four results still possible
By Simon Smale
Dare I say it? ...India might win still.
- MikeR
A win for either side or a tie - all three are possible I think.
Chasing anything on that pitch is going to be tough and, if India gets their line and length right, it will be torrid.
I am ruling out a draw though.
The GOAT to hit the winning runs?
By Simon Smale
Nathan Lyon, what a legend! The only way his day can get better if Australia drops to 8-74 and the GOAT gets to take the winning runs
- Josh
Jimmy Anderson was asked about this during the recent series between England and New Zealand - he's never hit the winning runs in Test cricket.
He was asked if he wanted to.
He said, emphatically, no and that he hated batting.
I'd guess the GOAT won't want to get anywhere near that pitch tomorrow unless it's to celebrate a victory around lunchtime.
'There is still a chance': Pujara
By Simon Smale
We're hearing from the Indian top scorer in this innings, Cheteshwar Pujara.
"It's a difficult pitch to bat on," Pujara says, several times in his post-match interview with the host broadcaster.
He says that India's lead is not enough, but there is a chance.
"I know it's not enough," he says.
"75 is not too many but still there is a chance."
India all out for 163, Australia needs 76 runs to win
By Simon Smale
So, India are all out and the lead is just 75.
Batting is hard out there, it's harder still in the morning (just ask Australia's batters from just a few hours ago, who lost 6-11).
Can India defend 76?
I reckon they'll give it a red hot go.
A tremendous morning in store for us tomorrow.
LYON HAS EIGHT! INDIA ALL OUT!
By Simon Smale
Lovely bowling, Siraj charged down the pitch, Lyon saw him coming, slowed his pace, turned the ball past him and he was bowled on off stump.
Axar Patel is really annoyed by that.
Siraj has thrown his wicket away and Axar wanted a few more.
Lyon ends with 8-64 - his second best figures in Test cricket.
61st over - Nathan Lyon is fit to bowl and will be eyeing up his second Test eight-fa
By Simon Smale
One slip, two close catchers at bat pad, one forward and one backward of square.
BIG APPEAL! Off the pad, caught at forward bat pad, no bat involved and LBW was going down leg.
Siraj jams the bat down and keeps that one out too.
60th over - Mitch Starc will continue hunting for reverse swing
By Simon Smale
Axar drives to long off, no run taken, which is a shame because it was a lovely shot for nothing.
No close catchers bar the keeper, everyone is back.
BEATEN! Outside off, the ball dying off the pitch and Axar just dangles the bat towards the ball. Get one of those on the stumps and Axar will be bowled out, I think.
Lyon is still stretching on the boundary as Axar watches the ball fly down the leg side, he had a waft at it, but did not get close to making contact.
Oh well wide, Starc barely puts it on the strip, landing the ball in the footmarks and there's an enormous explosion of dust out there.
Full toss, the ball raps Axar on the pads - boos ring out as Australia thinks about reviewing. They shouldn't, the reverse swing is taking that a long way down leg, and they do not. Nice reverse swing, albeit to a full toss. It was late and sharp. Hard to play for a tail ender.
Axar fends out a yorker to end the over and, crucially, can't get a run so Siraj will be got at by Nathan Lyon this over - if he can bowl that is...
59th over - Nathan Lyon looking for his eighth for the innings
By Simon Smale
He already has 10 for the match, Lyon.
Can he get eight in the innings?
Axar is being made to wait and he's not overly keen on it if I'm any judge of body language.
The fielders go back on the rope - but there are two slips in catching position.
The ball squirts to point and there is no run taken.
Nathan Lyon is cramping, I think. Left calf is it?
Yeah, we just heard a cry of anguish from Lyon as he released that ball into the leg side and Axar slaps the ball away for no run.
He's in a bit of strife at the moment - the trainer is out there and helping him release that left calf.
SIX! BIG SLOG SWEEP AND PATEL IS TAKING THE AXE TO THE INJURED GOAT!
Axar holds the pose, admires his handiwork from on one knee.
Now Axar takes a single cutting to square leg.
Now the field will come in for Siraj.
Nathan Lyon has never dismissed Mohammed Siraj or Axar Patel in his Test career. The only players in this Indian team he has not got out. Amazing.
Two catching bat pads in place and a slip, as Siraj defends back to Lyon and he limps back to his position.
Another huge cheer as Siraj defends another ball to end the over.
58th over - Mitch Starc to mop up the tail
By Simon Smale
Mitch Starc will bowl his sixth over of the innings and look to wrap this up.
Good option to have, a man capable of 140kph+...
Down the leg side - Mitch Starc asks very nicely if there was an edge on that. And Smith says why don't we have a look ourselves? Australia takes a review.
Bat hits the ground but I think it missed the ball.
And that's what snicko says too. Australia loses a review.
Axar defends as Starc aims in at him from over the wicket.
There's the yorker, well dug out by Axar. Genuine reverse swing there, the ball tailing in really late. Very hard to play.
Another yorker, Axar does well to keep the ball out, although there was not as much swing that time.
A wide yorker, Axar takes a single to backward point, just one ball for Siraj to face from Starc.
EDGED! Along the ground! A good ball from Starc but perhaps the top of off stump would have been a better option. The three slips tumble like skittles but Handscomb comes up with the ball to end the over.
YADAV OUT CAUGHT ON THE BOUNDARY!
By Simon Smale
A ball after getting a reprieve, Yadav holes out to Cameron Green.
He was right on the rope there Green, but stayed just inside.
Lyon now has 7 (seven) wickets in the innings, 7-57 and India are just one wicket away from having to bowl again.
Lyon has one ball at Siraj, who defends away off the inside edge - they decline the single.
LBW! YADAV GIVEN OUT FIRST BALL - OVERTURNED ON REVIEW!
By Simon Smale
That looked like it was going down leg to me, doing a bit too much.
Yadav will review this.
There's no bat on it, is it doing too much - remember it needs to miss the stumps completely given the on field decision.
Nope, doing too much missing leg stump.
A huge roar greets that news.
57th over - Half of it remaining for Lyon to bowl to Umesh Yadav
By Simon Smale
Yadav will want to swing for the fences here.
WHAT A CATCH! STEVE SMITH AT LEG SLIP! PUJARA HAS TO GO!
By Simon Smale
Magic from Steve Smith!
Oh my goodness!
He's dived, one handed to his right after moving towards his left initially, the ball did not bounce much off the pitch and he's got down to it with one hand.
Magnificent catch.
The big wicket, Pujara, he goes for 59 off 142 balls.
India leads by 67 but now has just 2 wickets in hand.
