India prevailed over Nathan Lyon’s masterful bowling on day two of the second Test on Saturday, finishing one run behind Australia’s first innings total of 263 thanks to the rear-guard play of Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin.

While Patel scored a superb 74 runs, Ashwin contributed a crucial 37 runs as the pair put together a 114-run partnership for the eighth wicket to help India recover from 139/7 and reach 262.

End of an extraordinary knock from Axar Patel, 74 runs when India was down & out in the Delhi test. He has given a great chance for India. pic.twitter.com/SW8fUhqxff

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2023

Australia appeared to have a significant lead in the first innings thanks to Lyon’s wrecking ball, but Patel and Ashwin struck a century-plus partnership to frustrate the Kangaroos and bring India back into the game.

The Australians made a big comeback in the ongoing second Test in Delhi after being dominated in the first match against India. Team India currently holds the series lead and will attempt to carry that momentum into the second match.

The first half of the day had been markedly different in appearance. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul had made a strong first stand, but once Australia got going, the game took a different turn.

When Lyon caught Rahul under pressure with a shot that went straight around the wicket, he made the first cut. After that, he bowled brilliantly and skidded a delivery into the stumps to defeat Rohit.

Australia reached a score of 263 at the end of their first innings in the second match thanks to a fantastic innings from opener Usman Khawaja and an unbeaten innings from Peter Handscomb. However, India’s batting performance from the first match has not been replicated.

Axar Patel saved the day for the team despite the unlikely demise of their top line

India posted a respectable total thanks to the 29-year-old, and Patel celebrated his 50th birthday in style with a six. He worked well with Ravichandran Ashwin to ensure that India gets closer to the Aussie’s score in the first inning. Axar once more stepped up for India after his impressive batsman ship in the first match.

Axar Patel's batting has been a massive plus point for India. pic.twitter.com/DcP3aGXUMR

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 18, 2023

“They are good batters and they could bat in the top 6 in most other sides. Here they are batting at 8 and 9, they are not bowlers who can bat but proper batters”

After the end of day’s play, Lyon heaped praise on the duo and talking to the host broadcaster said,

India vs Australia Test series in 2023 so far:

•Most runs – Axar Patel.
•Most 50+ – Axar Patel.
•Best Average – Axar Patel.
•Most 4s – Axar Patel.
•Most 6s – Axar Patel.
•Only 100s partnership – Axar & Ashwin. pic.twitter.com/hy3NweMTbB

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 18, 2023

Axar scored his fifty by bowling Kuhnemann over deep midwicket for six, and the century stand was made when he hit back-to-back boundaries against Cummins.

Australia was getting a little desperate, but the innings was finally over with the new ball, probably not entirely by design. Axar couldn’t believe Cummins was able to hold onto his well-struck drive at midfield after Ashwin clipped a leg-stump half-volley to square leg, where Renshaw pulled it out of the air. The teams could not be split after two innings, but Australia made the first moves in the decisive second half.