.jpg)
The most likely scenario remains a draw, and for much of the day India's batsmen have played seemingly with that result in mind. There are at least 33 overs due to be bowled after tea, meaning they need 5.72 runs per over. So far Josh Hazlewood has bowled nine overs for six runs, and Mitchell Starc 12 overs for 15 runs. There has been some reverse swing, and not much pace in the pitch.
But occasionally India, or more specifically Vijay, went after Lyon during the first two sessions. Sixteen runs came from Lyon's penultimate over before tea, as Vijay used his feet to lift a six and a four down the ground, and swept another boundary. It was the kind of intent that could win India the match, but equally could create the wicket chances Australia require.
At tea India had reached 2 for 160; Vijay was on 71 and Kohli had 26, with only one wicket having fallen between lunch and tea. Rohit Sharma was the man who fell, pushing at Shane Watson and edging wide of slip, where Steven Smith hurled himself to his right to clutch a stunning one-handed catch.
It came after Shaun Marsh at short cover put down a tough one in the previous over when Vijay had 42. The bowler, Ryan Harris, responded in frustration next delivery when Vijay pushed the ball back to him and Harris hurled it at the stumps, only to see it bounce in the footmarks
Vijay spent around an hour in the forties, playing watchfully, before he brought up his half-century from his 135th delivery with a drive to long-on from Lyon, before launching his assault on the offspinner. Vijay had also survived a tight lbw call when Hazlewood got the ball to swing in late and rapped Vijay on the pad, only for Richard Kettleborough to turn down an appeal that should have been granted.
Hazlewood was remarkably miserly, only one run coming from his first seven overs, and the fast bowlers built pressure well, although the wickets Australia needed did not fall. The second session brought 1 for 87 after the first brought 1 for 73, following the expected declaration from Australia on their overnight score, setting India a ground record 349 to win.
The only wicket to fall before lunch was that of KL Rahul, who advanced to Lyon but failed to get to the pitch of the ball and was caught off his glove at backward short leg. Australia nearly made it two from two deliveries when Rohit's first ball resulted in a perilously close stumping chance; the TV umpire decided that there was enough doubt as to Rohit's foot position to reprieve him.
Other half chances came and went. Rohit popped one up off Lyon and Joe Burns at short leg could not get himself in the right position to grab it. An edge from Vijay, on 24, ricocheted off Brad Haddin and lobbed up just out of reach of Watson at first slip. That came in an over that brought 16 runs as Vijay attacked Lyon, including a lofted six over midwicket.
Defence was often the first option for India's batsmen as they sought a strong platform and after Rahul's wicket, 38 consecutive dot balls followed before Rohit finally got off the mark with a flick through leg off Lyon.
