India in sight of memorable victory, Oz 141/5

Their top order blown away, Australia were gasping for breath at 141 for five wickets when stumps were drawn. Michael Clarke (42) and Brad Haddin (37) would return tomorrow, hoping to delay the inevitable.

With a 201-first innings lead behind them, India declared their second essay at 314 for three with Gautam Gambhir (104), Virender Sehwag (90), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (68 not out) scoring bulk of the runs at a brisk pace.

In reply, Matthew Hayden (29) and Simon Katich (20) counter-attacked, scoring at seven-an-over before Harbhajan ran amock.

Hayden fell to the second delivery of Harbhajan and the off-spinner then removed Katich with his last delivery of the over. In his next over– on the other side of the tea break — Harbhajan trapped in-form Michael Hussey (1) for is 299th Test victim.

Ishant responded in style, castling his bunny Ricky Ponting (2) and then removing Shane Watson (2), Australia’s topscorer in the first innings.

Clarke and Haddin stemmed the rot with an unfinished 83-run stand but that may not prove enough in the end.

Earlier, with Brett Lee out of action in the morning session, Delhi duo Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir knocked the sting out of the attack with their strong-arm nonchalance.

Ponting could watch only in exasperation as both the batsmen enjoyed fortune of the brave after resuming on India’s overnight score of 100 for no loss.

Gambhir edged Cameron White in the second over of the day but neither Brad Haddin nor Matthew Hayden could pouch the deflection. Gambhir also edged Michael Hussey but Haddin again cut a sorry figure behind the stumps with the ball deflecting off his gloves.

At the other end, Sehwag edged Mitchell Johnson but umpire Asad Rauf ruled in the batsman’s favour even though snickometre suggested otherwise.

Shoulders drooped and frustration increased as Australia struggled to stem the runs with Gambhir showing utter disdain for their pedestrian attack. Gambhir cruised to his fifty and the celebration came in the form of a six as he came waltzing down the track to hit White over his head.

Sehwag whipped Shane Watson past square leg for his first four of the day and his century looked like just a matter of formality. Ten runs before the mark, Sehwag could not resist the temptation of poking at a Peter Siddle delivery and Haddin sort of redeemed himself behind the stumps.

A 16th Test century could have been the perfect way to celebrate his 30th birthday but Sehwag nonetheless figured prominently in the 182-run opening partnership with a sterling 122-ball 90 which was studded with eight boundaries.