India lost the closely fought first Test by 48 runs after Australia declared on their overnight score of 290/5 at the Adelaide Oval. Chasing 364, Murali Vijay (99) and Virat Kohli (141) had kept India in the fray with a clinically compiled 185-run stand for the third wicket until Nathan Lyon claimed the former. India’s stand-in skipper, who had kept the team in reckoning with a carefully planned century couldn’t find an able ally after Murali Vijay’s departure for 99 in the last session. Having ended the flourishing stand that threatened to take the game away from the hosts, the off-spinner continued to strike at the other end. He eventually accounted for Kohli as the hosts made their way back in the game and finished with seven in the innings. Earlier, with 16 runs on the board, India lost Shikhar Dhawan to a Mitchell Johnson bouncer that skimmed past the batsman handing an easy catch to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Murali Vijay who had displayed patience and resolve in the first innings put up a stoic front as he resolved to carry India. The opener was involved in a 41-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara until Nathan Lyon ended the partnership. With the pitch affording turn and bounce Lyon was introduced into the attack in the eight over and while the off-spinner was plundered by the batsmen he asked questions of them. While Pujara sent him racing to the fence, Vijay launched him over mid-on for six. But, the bowler regrouped to bowl a maiden and accounted for Pujara in his next. The delivery grazed past Pujara’s bat and was caught by Brad Haddin behind the wickets. With the visitors on 57/2 the opener found himself in the company of Virat Kohli. The pair forged a partnership to keep India in the fray and took the team to Lunch at 105/2 without losing further wickets. Michael Clarke brought back Mitchell Johnson into the attack and continued with Lyon from one end as the hosts looked to end the partnership. In the speedster’s second over Vijay brought up his fifty with a single to mid-wicket, while two balls later Kohli reached 2000 runs in Test cricket. Presenting a stoic resistance the pair negotiated the Australian bowlers. Lyon continued to persist tirelessly while the pacers plied from the opposite end. With a boundary to third-man off Mitchell Marsh, India’s stand-in captain too reached his half-century in the first hour of the afternoon session. Kohli was in a glorious touch as he looked to compile yet another crucial innings. He slammed the off-spinner for two successive boundaries to take the partnership to the three-figure mark and soon caught up with the Vijay with his run making. A patient Vijay and a determined Kohli kept the match hanging in balance while the Australian bowlers strived hard to make a dent. The batsmen gleaned runs off the spinner and kept the pacers at bay as they chipped away at the target. Vijay lofted the off-spinner over mid-on as he held up one end in India’s effort to seize the advantage from the home team. With Clarke off the field due to a hamstring concern, Haddin was at the helm of affairs as the Indian batsmen ate away into the Australian total. At the business end of the session, Steven Smith was re-introduced into the attack but was clobbered for 11 runs by Vijay who smacked the bowler twice to the mid-wicket fence. Johnson however followed up with a maiden to keep the visitors on 199. But with a boundary past point, Kohli took India to 200 in the next over. The partnership worth 148, Vijay on 82 and Kohli on 85, India had dominated the session and were 205/2 at tea. With the visitors needing 159 runs with eight wickets, the last session promised to be riveting one. And after a brief respite Lyon was back in the attack. Vijay soon lofted him over mid-on to enter the 90s with a six. While Kohli caught up, the opener reached 99 with a boundary. With two off Harris in the following over Kohli was a run away from a hundred in each innings of the Test. Two balls later the stand-in captain brought up his third century at the venue with a single and in the process became only the second cricketer to do so since Greg Chappell on captaincy debut. Unfortunately for India, Lyon’s next over claimed Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane. Off the first ball of the over Vijay’s hard work for 234 balls came to end on 99 as he was out lbw. And the last ball of the over saw the middle-order batsman being sent back for naught. Rohit Sharma made his way to the middle to join the skipper in pursuit of the target. Kohli meanwhile kept the Indians in the fray with a boundary to third-man off Johnson as he went past his previous Test best and brought the required runs to below 100. With India 87 runs short of the target, Warner took a single-handed catch at leg-slip to send back Rohit and give Lyon his fourth wicket in the innings. Wriddhiman Saha then took guard and attacked Lyon with some well executed shots. But the ploy worked against him as he was soon stumped. With his tenth scalp of the Test, the off-spinner brought the hosts back into the game. At 299/6 Kohli was left to fight the uphill battle with the tail-enders. Having taken the team past 300, the batsman whipped Lyon through the leg side. But the majestic innings came to an abrupt end as Kohli holed out the next to deep mid-wicket. The wicket tipped the balance in Australia’s favour. With five wickets in the final session Lyon had changed the complexion of the game. Mohammed Shami returned taking the aerial route couple of overs later. He was followed back by Varun Aaron; trapped leg-before by Johnson. Lyon then finished the game with the wicket of Ishant Sharma to return with 12 wickets in the match. Match result: End of Day 1: Australia 1st inn 354/6 in 89.2 overs (D Warner 145, S Smith 72*, M Shami 2/83, V Aaron 2/95, I Sharma 1/56) End of Day 2: Australia 1st inn 517/7 decl in 120 overs (S Smith 162*, M Clarke 128, M Johnson 0*) End of Day 3: India 1st inn 369/5 in 97 overs (V Kohli 115, C Pujara 73, A Rahane 62, M Johnson 2/90, N Lyon 2/103) End of Day 4: India 1st inn 444 all out in 116.4 overs (R Sharma 43, N Lyon 5/134); Australia 2nd inn 290/5 decl in 69 overs (D Warner 102, S Smith 52*, M Marsh 40, K Sharma 2/95) End of Day 5: India 2nd inn 315 all out in 87.1 overs (V Kohli 141, M Vijay 99, N Lyon 7/152) Man of the Match: Nathan Lyon for his match winning 12-wicket haul Debutant: Karn Sharma for India