Lyon's career-best lifts Aus to Test win

Australia have recorded a dramatic 48-run victory over India late on day five of the first Test, with Nathan Lyon snaring 12 wickets in the match.

Australia's Nathan Lyon reacts

Batsman David Warner is backing Nathan Lyon to spin Australia to a first Test win against India. (AAP)

There were five days of Phillip Hughes tributes at Adelaide Oval, but Nathan Lyon saved the best for the last session.

Lyon snared career-best match figures of 12-286 on Saturday, inflicting a late collapse as he spun Australia to a remarkable 48-run win over India in the first Test.

It was Test cricket at its best, Michael Clarke declaring before the start of play to set the tourists a target of 364 runs.

Virat Kohli pushed India's total to 2-242 before Lyon turned the match on its head with a double-wicket maiden in the 70th over.

Lyon then ran rampant, removing Kohli for a career-best 141 along the way.

Fittingly the offspinner ended the game when he had Ishant Sharma stumped and India all out for 315 at 5.38pm local time.

Happenstance or not, Australia's celebrations gravitated towards the 408 painted on the outfield in memory of Hughes' baggy green number.

As players broke from their huddle to shake hands and applaud Lyon's man-of-the-match award, the offspinner patted the 408 on the turf.

"This first Test is one we will remember and cherish for the rest of our careers," Clarke said, revealing a fresh hamstring injury will sideline him for the rest of the series.

"He's in our minds, he always will be. He will be for the rest of my life.

"It's obviously quite emotional still and will be for a long time.

"Every Test match you play for Australia you have a lot to play for, but obviously this series is even closer to our hearts."

Hughes's shock death caused the series to be rescheduled, with Clarke and teammates attending the funeral in Macksville last week.

Lyon toiled through 34.1 overs on Saturday, but the 26th was arguably his most important.

The offspinner trapped Murali Vijay lbw on 99, with Chris Rogers claiming a straightforward catch at short leg to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane for a duck in the same over.

Both men lingered at the crease and stared at umpire Marais Erasmus - Vijay in disbelief after being denied a ton and Rahane aggrieved because he didn't hit the ball.

It was one of many controversial decisions that will incite more Decision Review System (DRS) debate.

Both Clarke and Kohli didn't touch the issue in their post-match press duties.

Lyon then removed Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha and Kohli as India collapsed.

India's stand-in skipper holed out on 141, Mitch Marsh misreading the ball but completing an awkward catch in the deep.

"I pretty much just shat myself," Marsh explained.

Former Test captain Allan Border was among the pundits calling for Lyon to be dropped after an underwhelming tour of the UAE, where he captured three Test wickets at an average of 140.

"If anything it helps Nathan more than how anyone else thinks," Clarke said.

"Every single person in that changeroom knows how good he is.

"Now it confirms to him that he's a match-winner."

Kohli was impressed with how much Lyon had developed since Australia's tour of India last year.

"He has improved a lot ... he is much more confident about his ability," he said.


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