Nathan Lyon's heroics help Australia pip India in first Test

Australia offspinner Nathan Lyon's career-best figures of 12 for 286 helped his side beat India in the first Test by a 48-run margin at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to bat in conditions that favoured his batsmen. Opener David Warner, Steven Smith and Clarke himself grabbed early advantage. The trio scored freely in the first innings and scored massive hundreds.

Smith remained unbeaten on 162, while Warner was dismissed for 145 and Clarke for 128. Their heroics helped the hosts post 517 runs in their first innings.

India's top-three batsmen laid a solid 192-run platform for their side to launch a challenge. Lyon and Mitchell Johnson were the only Australia bowlers that troubled them.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were troubled by Lyon's control and testing length and line outside off stump. M Vijay had countered the offspinner by stepping out and lofting a couple of sixes, but the middle-order batsmen were hesitant to leave the crease or go right back and were tied down.

Lyon claimed Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma wicket to end with figures of 5 for 134 in their first innings. India managed 444, which put them 73-runs adrift from their opponents.

Warner continued his sublime form and scored his second century of the Test - for the second time in 2014 - to help stretch the advantage to 363 on day four. Clarke, known for his sporting declarations in the past, declared overnight.

India looked in control of the chase for most part of their second innings. The tourists buoyed by a century from their captain, Virat Kohli, were cruising at 205 for the loss of two wickets in the first two sessions.

Australia's bowlers had only 158 to protect in at least 37 overs after tea on day five, and that's when Lyon stepped into the fray once again. He took seven wickets to finish the Test with career-best figures that helped rescue his side the blushes.

"Credit goes to the groundsman, produced a great Test wicket," Lyon said after receiving the Man-of-the-Match award. "It was Test cricket, always twists and turns and we just had to hang in there. [Kohli and Vijay] They're unbelievable, they're superstars, credit goes to them, but I'm sticking with Australia. Certainly I believed, it just happened. I'll keep on believing."