India recovered from a dramatic post-lunch collapse to set Australia a daunting target of 382 on a tricky fifth day track as the fourth and final cricket Test seemed headed for a nerve-wracking finish in Nagpur on Sunday.

After securing a vital 86-run first innings lead, the hosts were cruising along comfortably at l16 for no loss with Virender Sehwag (92) and debutant Murali Vijay (41) giving a slid start before the top order batsmen fell in a heap to leave the team tottering at 166 for six at the tea interval.

But captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (55) and Harbhajan Singh (52) brought the Indians back into the game with a gritty 108-run stand for the seventh wicket before the innings folded up for 295 about 15 minutes before close on the penultimate day.

Australia were 13 for no loss in the second innings before bad light forced play to be called off with four ball remaining to be bowled, which means they need 369 runs on the last day to win the match.

The stage is now set for a pulsating fifth day's play with the balance slightly tilted in India's favour as chasing such a stiff target on the last day could be daunting task for the visitors.

Only three teams have chased a target of more than 382 in the fourth innings in the history of Test cricket. West Indies has the record of successfully chasing down 418 against Australia at St Johns in 2002-03. Australia had scored 404 against England at Leeds in 1948 and India had successfully chased 403 against West Indies in Port of Spain in 1975-76.

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