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Melbourne: Australia ended 8 for 179, with an overall lead of 230 runs, ending a see-saw day that saw both sides scrapping on the third day of the first Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Umesh Yadav was India's best bowler with figures of 4/46.
Ravichandran Ashwin got his first wicket of the innings when he removed Nathan Lyon who caught plumb in front of the wicket. Umesh Yadav struck again as he scalped Peter Siddle to give Australia another jolt.
A bowling change got the reward for India as Zaheer Khan dismissed Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin in his successive overs.
Indian pace spearhead Zaheer made remarkable come back for the team as he broke the vital century stand between Ponting and Mike Hussey for the fifth wicket. Ponting (60) stitched valuable 115 runs stand with Hussey to consolidate Australia after crashing to 27 for four.
Haddin became the second victim of Zaheer as the Aussie edged to the slip where VVS Laxman pouched it safely. Australia were again stuttering at 6 for 148 in 42.5 overs.
Ponting once again showed his character as he scored the second half century of the match at the crucial time to consolidate Australia. Former Aussie skipper's 59th half century came in 84 balls with the help of three boundaries.
Out of form Hussey showed that class is permanent but form is temporary as he made gutsy fifty to lead Australian fightback.
Ponting and Hussey took Australia to safety after adding valuable half century stand that came in just 70 balls. Australia reached 4-81 when tea.
Indian pacers were on a roll as they dismissed Australia's top four batsmen to lead Indian fightback after conceding first innings lead.
Lanky pacer Ishant Sharma also joined the party as he scalped Aussie skipper Michael Clarke to increase hosts misery who were struggling at 27/4 in 12.5 overs.
Shaun Marsh, who went for nought in the first innings, bowed down to Yadav again. Marsh went for the drive on outside off and full length delivery, managed inside edge which was enough to down his bails.
Rookie pacer Yadav struck twice in one over to scalp David Warner and Ed Cowan on the third day of the first Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Yadav gave Australia first jolt in the form of Warner, who was looking to smash angled length delivery, got an inside edge that rattled opener's stumps.
The hosts suffered a second blow after three deliveries when Cowan, who made a half century in his debut Test, was caught LBW in front of the wicket as Australia were tottering at 16/2 in 7.4 overs.
After restricting India for 282, Australia started their second innings with a vital 51-run first innings lead after lunch on the third day.
Earlier, Ben Hilfenhaus registered his maiden five-wicket haul and Peter Siddle took three wickets as Australia bowled out India for 282 runs in their first innings.
The Indian first innings ended at the stroke of lunch when Siddle had R Ashwin (31) caught behind by Brad Haddin. Hilfenhaus took his fifth wicket when he had Ishant Sharma caught behind by Haddin. He took his fourth wicket when he had Indian captain MS Dhoni caught by Michael Hussey at gully. Hilfenhaus bowled a full delivery outside off-stump for Dhoni who tried to drive it on the up but ball kissed the outside edge and flew to gully where Hussey made no mistake. He took his third wicket when he had Virat Kohli caught behind by Haddin.
This was after Peter Siddle had VVS Laxman caught behind by Haddin and Hilfenhaus had clean bowled Rahul Dravid with an absolute ripper that was the second ball of the third day's play.
Brief scores
Australia 333 & 8 for 179 (Hussey 79*, Ponting 60, Yadav 4-49)
India 282 (Tendulkar 73, Dravid 68, Sehwag 67, Hilfenhaus 5-75)
Status Australia lead by 230 runs
