Chennai - Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin snatched his second fifer before Australian debutant Moises Henriques struck his second half-century of the match on a difficult pitch on Monday to take the first cricket Test into the fifth day.
At stumps, Henriques was batting on 75 following his first-innings’ 68, and his 57-run unfinished last-wicket stand took Australia to 232 for nine in the second innings, giving the visitors a slender lead of 40 runs going into the last day.
Earlier on resumption, India ended their first innings at 572, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stretching his score to 224. Australia made 380 in their first outing.
Henrique and Lyon frustrated the Indian bowlers with their stubborn yet attacking stand after the Indian spinners reduced Australia to 175 for nine. Off-spinner Ashwin finished the day with five for 90, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh, playing his 100th Test, got two wickets each.
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Henriques and Lyon came together with Australia still needing 17 runs to force India to bat again. They not only averted an innings defeat but also gave a demoralised dressing room a hope to fight back in the remaining three Tests.
Henriques struck six fours and two sixes during his 124-ball knock, getting to his fifty with a straight six off Harbhajan.
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