Only mother nature can derail any chance Australia has of completing the 4-0 series whitewash following dominating day four of the Fourth Vodophone Test against India being played in Adelaide.
Rain and heavy storms are forecast for the fifth and final day on Saturday and the tourists will be hoping that mother nature rescue’s them as they once again find themselves in huge trouble.
At stumps India is 6 for 166 in their second innings, 334 runs behind their required target of 500 for victory after Australia declared their second innings closed at 5 for 167 earlier on Friday.
Australia which has dominated the series from start to finish just needs four more wickets to complete the series whitewash in what would be the first time in the series the match will be heading into a fifth and final day at Adelaide Oval.
Resuming the day on 3 for 50 captain Michael Clarke (37) and his predecessor Ricky Ponting (60 not out) continued to punish the Indian attack before the national skipper fell just after the hosts had past the century mark.
Clarke was adjudged to have been caught behind but television replays showed afterwards that the Australian captain’s dismissal may have been harsh.
Veteran Michael Hussey (15) joined Ponting and the pair pushed the lead past the 450 mark before the man known as Mr Cricket was caught in front by quick Ishant Sharma just before the lunch break.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (11 not out) and Ponting then survived both the tourists’ onslaught and the Adelaide Oval pitch but the pair were going at a snails pace much to the chagrin of Clarke who officially declared the innings 11 minutes into the second session.
Chasing a record run chase and desperately needing a good start the tourists didn’t get any of that as opener Gatum Gambhir (3) was caught behind by Haddin off the bowling off Ryan Harris with the score 1 for 14.
Fellow opener Virender Sehwag (62) and first drop Rahul Dravid (25) then took it up to the home side with the swashbuckling Sehwag taking it to the Australian attack and reaching his half century from just 39 balls.
However Sehwag went for one shot too many and was comfortably caught in the outfield by Ponting off the bowling by spinner Nathan Lyon and the tourists went from 2 for 80 to 3 for 100 after Dravid was brilliantly caught in the gully by Michael Hussey just after tea.
Ten runs later and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (13) fell to Lyon but fellow veteran VVS Laxman (35) and century maker from the first innings in Virat Kohli (22) steaded the ship.
But as it looked as though the pair would take the visitors to stumps Lyon struck for the third time with the removal of Laxman following a magnificent catch in the outfield by Shaun Marsh.
Next over and Kohli was on his way after being sensationally run out by Ben Hilfenhaus leaving tailenders Ishant Sharma (two not out) and WP Saha (0 not out) at the crease when play resumes on Saturday.
Australia 7 for 604 declared
Ricky Ponting 221 (404)
Michael Clarke 210 (275)
Ravichandran Ashwin 3 for 194 (53 overs)
Zaheer Khan 2 for 96 (31 overs)
India all out 272
Virat Kohli 116 (213)
WP Saha 35 (94)
Peter Siddle 5 for 49 (15 overs)
Ben Hilfenhaus 3 for 62 (22.l overs)
Australia 5 for 167 declared
Ricky Ponting 60 not out
Michael Clarke 37 (43)
Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 73 (20 overs)
India 6 for 166
Virender Sehwag 62 (53)
VVS Laxman 35 (88)
Nathan Lyon 3 for 57 (19 overs)
Ryan Harris 2 for 25 (14 overs)
Tagged with: Adelaide Oval, Australian Captain, Captain Michael, Chagrin, Dravid, Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Mark Clarke, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Ponting, Replays, Ryan Harris, Second Session, Sehwag, Snails Pace, Stumps, Target, Whitewash, Wickets