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Australia forced India on the back foot following an inspired spell by Nathan Lyon after tea on Day 2 of the fourth Test in New Delhi on Saturday.
The Australian off-spinner ended the day with figures of 5-94 with India taking a slender four-run lead, their score at stumps reading 266 for 8.
Earlier, Murali Vijay's magical run continued in the series as he struck another impressive half century and was involved in a strong opening stand with Cheteshwar Pujara on the second day of the fourth and final Test against Australia in New Delhi.
This was after India dismissed the visitors for Australia folded their first inning at 262 after adding 31 runs to their overnight total of 231 for eight.
Courtesy of Peter Siddle's lion-hearterd effort Aussie score reached some respectability.
Siddle's innings came to an end, when he was bowled by R Ashwin's straighter one to give the bowler his fourth five wicket haul of the series.
Pragyan Ojha too wasted little time as he had James Pattinson caught in the slip, which also was his 100th Test match wicket.
The Australian innings lasted just over 14 overs as Ojha became the third fastest Indian to reach the milestone after Erapalli Prasanna (20) and Anil Kumble (21).
In-form Vijay and stand-in opener Pujara then joined hands to put up a century stand to ensure that there was no early damage with the new ball.
Pujara, especially, hit three boundaries to kick-start the innings while Vijay played the partner's role to perfection.
Pujara played a majestic backfoot cover drive off pacer James Pattinson after Vijay opened his account with a streaky boundary past the slip cordon.
Pattinson drifted one onto Pujara's pads and the batsman promptly got his second boundary.
Then came the best shot of the morning session as Pujara hit left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for a straight drive.
The first five overs produced 34 runs as India completed their 50-runs stand in the 10th over.
However, things changed after lunch for Australia. Nathan Lyon became a force to reckon with removing Pujara and Kohli in quick succession.
Pujara was done in by a brilliant straighter one by the offspinner, which clipped his offstump to break the century stand by the openers.
Pujara faced 76 balls and hit five boundaries in the process.Virat Kohli also did not stay for long as Lyon trapped him plumb-in-front for one.
The bulk of the damage was done in the post-tea session when India lost six wickets as the Australian bowlers looked menacing for the first time.
Murali Vijay's bright form continued and he went on to strike another half-century. Again he took more than a hundred deliveries to get to the milestone. He played the bowlers well, caressing the bad deliveries through cover.
However, he was eventually foxed by a rising delivery off Siddle. The ball rose sharply and 'keeper Wade took the catch with ease.
Lyon then came on to bowl an inspired spell. Operating from the Delhi Gate End, Lyon used the deteriorating pitch conditions to good effect, using the rough created outside the leg-stump well. Also he got awkward bounce that created problems for the Indian batsmen who time and again got beaten while trying to play for the turn.
Within a space of five overs Lyon then accounted for Ajinkya Rahane for 7, the debutant presenting a simple catch to the fielder at short-leg.Sachin Tendulkar also found it difficult on the track. He did hit five crisp boundaries enroute his 32 runs but like his teammates succumbed to the slowness of the track.
Lyon pushed one quicker through the air and it hurried off the surface to find the batsman plumb in-front.
Then Ravindra Jadeja and captain MS Dhoni tried to stage a fight back. Dhoni played a blazing innings, hitting two boundaries and stealing quick runs. They built a 30-run partnership and looked good for more until Dhoni was scalped by Pattinson.
Jadeja also hit six fours during his stay at the wicket but was eventually trapped leg before by Maxwell.