NEW DELHI  - Nathan Lyon scalped five wickets as Indian batsmen were tested for the first time in the series on a crumbling track but still managed to take a slender four-run first-innings lead in the fourth and final Test against Australia on Saturday.
At stumps after an intriguing second day's play, India struggled their way to 266 for eight despite a century-plus opening stand between Cheteshwar Pujara (52) and Murali Vijay (57) after the visitors had scored 262 in their first innings. The bulk of the damage was done in the post-tea session when India lost six wickets as the Australian bowlers looked menacing for the first time.
If India manage a lead of even 50 runs, it could turn out to be a decisive one considering Australia's lack of firepower to counter the Indian spinners. Curator Venkat Sundaram designed the pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla keeping in mind the requirements of the Indian team, but it boomeranged on the hosts instead, as Lyon (5/94) extracted sharp turn and bounce to get rid of top-order players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Pujara and debutant Ajinkya Rahane.  Ravindra Jadeja survived a hostile spell from James Pattinson and faced constant sledging from the close-in fielders as he fought his way to a fighting 43 before getting a questionable leg before decision off Glenn Maxwell. Pattinson and Peter Siddle also got certain deliveries to rear up awkwardly from the good length spot, which caused trouble for the batsmen.
Having gone into tea at a relatively comfortable 114 for two, the trouble started in the final session with an inspired spell of fast bowling from Siddle. A nasty bouncer accounted for Vijay as he lobbed a simple catch to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. A second bouncer by the bowler softened up debutant Rahane (7), who got hit on the helmet and didn't recover from the psychological blow. Lyon took advantage of the situation as he got one to pitch on the rough as Rahane presented a tame catch to the backward short-leg fielder.
Operating from the Delhi Gate End, Lyon used the deteriorating pitch conditions to good effect, using the rough created outside the leg-stump well. Also he got awkward bounce that created problems for the Indian batsmen who time and again got beaten while trying to play for the turn. Even Tendulkar (32) found it difficult to hit him. Having survived a confident leg before appeal in the post-lunch session, the veteran did hit five boundaries with three lovely ones of Siddle.
Summarised scores:
AUSTRALIA: 262 (SPD Smith 46, PJ Hughes 45, R Ashwin 5-57, I Sharma 2-35, I Sharma 2-40)
INDIA: 266/8 in 68.1 ov (M Vijay 57, CA Pujara 52, NM Lyon 5-94).

scoreboard
AUSTRALIA, 1ST INNINGS:
(Overnight score: 231-8)
EJM Cowan b Ashwin    38
DA Warner c Kohli b Sharma    0
PJ Hughes b Sharma    45
SR Watson st Dhoni b Jadeja    17
SPD Smith c Rahane b Ashwin    46
MS Wade c Vijay b Ashwin    2
GJ Maxwell c Sharma b Jadeja    10
MG Johnson b Ashwin    3
PM Siddle b Ashwin    51
JL Pattinson c Kohli b Ojha    30
NM Lyon not out    8
EXTRAS: (b 5, lb 7)    12
TOTAL: (all out; 112.1 overs)    262
FOW: 1-4, 2-71, 3-106, 4-115, 5-117, 6-129, 7-136, 8-189, 9-243, 10-262
BOWLING: B Kumar 9-1-43-0, I Sharma 14-3-35-2, R Ashwin 34-18-57-5, PP Ojha 26.1-6-75-1, RA Jadeja 29-8-40-2.
INDIA, 1ST INNINGS:
M Vijay c Wade b Siddle    57
CA Pujara b Lyon    52
V Kohli lbw b Lyon    1
Tendulkar lbw b Lyon    32
AM Rahane c Smith b Lyon    7
MS Dhoni c Watson b Pattinson    24
RA Jadeja lbw b Maxwell    43
R Ashwin lbw b Lyon    12
B Kumar not out    10
EXTRAS: (b 12, lb 16)    28
TOTAL: (8 wickets; 68.1 overs)    266
FOR: 1-108, 2-114, 3-148, 4-165, 5-180, 6-210, 7-254, 8-266
BOWLING: MG Johnson 17-3-44-0, JL Pattinson 14-1-54-1, PM Siddle 12-3-38-1, NM Lyon 22.1-3-94-5, GJ Maxwell 3-0-8-1.
TOSS: Australia