Australia v India: Nathan Lyon spins hosts to Adelaide victory

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Australia spinner Nathan LyonImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon started his cricket career as a member of the Adelaide ground staff

First Test, Adelaide (day five):

Australia 517-7 dec & 290-5 dec beat India 444 & 315 by 48 runs

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took 10 wickets in a Test match for the first time in his career as Australia beat India by 48 runs in the first Test at Adelaide.

India fell short of their target of 364 from 98 overs despite captain Virat Kohli's 141 and Murali Vijay's 99.

Lyon took 7-152 in the second innings to finish with match figures of 12-286.

But Australia captain Michael Clarke injured his hamstring while fielding and will miss the rest of the four-match series.

Australia declared on their overnight total of 290-5, and India looked comfortable in their pursuit of 364 as Kohli, deputising for the injured MS Dhoni, and opener Vijay put on 185 for the third wicket, to take India to 242-2.

Vijay fell in the 10th over after tea, lbw to Lyon one short of his century, and India's hopes further dimmed when having completed his second century of the match, Kohli was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Mitchell Marsh off the bowling of Lyon.

Ishant Sharma was last out, stumped by stand-in captain Brad Haddin off Lyon, as Australia - wearing black armbands to honour their late team-mate Phillip Hughes, who died on 27 November, two days after being struck on the head by a ball during a Sheffield Shield game - wrapped up the win to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia captain Michael Clarke on playing after the death of Phillip Hughes

"I don't really want to talk too much about that, to be honest, because I'll get too emotional. He's in our minds, he always will be, and he will be for the rest of my life."

Lyon, who was named as man of the match despite David Warner and Kohli both scoring hundreds in each innings, said Australia remained confident of winning, even when Kohli and Vijay seemed well set.

"It's Test match cricket, and there are always little turns and stories in the game. but we knew that if we stayed patient long enough, things would turn around," he said.

Kohli said India were determined to try and chase down the target rather than play for a draw at the Adelaide Oval.

"I told the guys last night that we had to come out tomorrow and chase it. I believed throughout in my own ability and the ability of the guys," he said.

"But the whole Australia team put up a great fight - credit to Nathan Lyon for a great spell where he bowled the balls in the right areas."

Clarke said his side particularly wanted to record a victory in their first match since the death of their former team-mate Hughes.

"I think winning games of cricket are based on skill not emotion, but when you get the result you're after I think that's probably when you see the emotions come out," he said.

"Hence the celebrations after we took that last wicket - the boys are pretty emotional in the changing room now."

The players also sang their traditional victory anthem Under the Southern Cross on the pitch of the Adelaide Oval after the match.

The song, popularised by former Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, is usually delivered in the dressing room.

India in Australia 2014-15

1st Test

Adelaide

Aus won by 48 runs

2nd Test

Brisbane

17-21 December

3rd Test

Melbourne

26-30 December

4th Test

Sydney

6-10 January

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