Australia on the verge of squaring Test series against India

Australia closed in on victory in the second Test against India in Perth on Monday with the hosts only needing another five wickets on Tuesday to level the four-match series.

Set a target of 287 to win, India were reduced to 112/5 at stumps on the fourth day with Australia spinner Nathan Lyon claiming the prized scalp of Virat Kohli for just 17.

Hanuma Vihari was 24 not out and Rishabh Pant was on nine and will resume for India in the final day with the visitors still requiring another 175 runs for victory.

Lyon dismissed Kohli for the seventh time in Test cricket, two more than any other bowler, when he had the visiting skipper caught at slip by Usman Khawaja for 17.

The other batsmen to fall were KL Rahul (0), Cheteshwar Pujara (4), Murali Vijay (20) and Ajinkya Rahane (30) with Lyon and seamer Josh Hazlewood claiming two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Australia lost their last six wickets for 51 runs to be dismissed for 243, with Mohammed Shami claiming a career-best 6-56

Resuming the day on 132/4, Usman Khawaja dug in to score 72 while Tim Paine hit 37 but once the duo’s 72-run stand was broken the wickets began to tumble.

Hazlewood (17 not out) and Mitchell Starc (14) added a vital 36 for he last wicket that gave Australia momentum going into the field to defend their target.