Victorian quick Peter Siddle claimed a five wicket haul as Australia remains in the box seat following the third day of the Fourth Vodophone Test against India being played in Adelaide.
The Victorian was the chief destroyer as India was bowled out for 272 in their first innings, 332 runs in the rears of Australia’s mammoth first innings total of 7 for 604 declared.
But instead of enforcing the follow on the hosts decided to bat again and lost three late wickets to be 3 for 50, an overall lead of 382 runs at stumps on day three of the fourth and final test on Australia Day Thursday.
First innings hero’s Captain Michael Clarke (nine not out) and his predecessor Ricky Ponting (one not out) will resume at the crease as the hosts look to build upon their massive first innings lead when day four resumes at the picturesque Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Whilst the home side’s inexperienced top order once again failed to fire late in the day earlier it was veteran paceman Peter Siddle that restricted the out of sorts Indian batting attack.
After resuming on 2 for 61 the visitors lost the wickets of first Sachin Tendulkar (25) and then opener Gatum Gambhir (34) as they both fell to Siddle on the first hour of play.
Fellow veteran batsman VVS Laxman (18) came and went in no time as India slumped to 5 for 111 just before lunch, having lost three wickets for 33 runs on a batter friendly wicket.
Wicketkeeper WP Saha (35) who was playing due to the one game suspension for captain MS Dhoni and the under-fire Virat Kohli (116) survived until the first interval and then frustrated the Australian bowling attack for the majority of the second session.
However as it looked like the tourists would not lose a wicket in a session of play for the first time this series Saha fell as he was cleaned bowled off the bowling off quick Ryan Harris.
India headed into the last session of play on 6 for 225 but Siddle struck again as two quick wickets had the tourists on the back foot and the home side eventually dismissed the visitors as they lost their last four wickets for 42 runs.
Kohli was the only batsman who provided much resistance as he brought up his maiden test century.
Clarke surprised many when he did not enforce the follow on and early on it looked as though that was a great decision as openers David Warner (28) and Ed Cowan (10) were able to survive the visitors attack.
But that wouldn’t last long as the home side lost three wickets for one run as first Warner then the out of form Shaun Marsh (0) and Cowan were all dismissed in quick fashion as Australian went from 0 for 39 to 3 for 40.
Clarke and Ponting, the two highest scorers in the series were able to survive until the end of play as Australia still remains in a strong position to win the test and complete the 4-0 series whitewash.
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 3 for 50
Michael Clarke nine not out
Ricky Ponting one not out
Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 24 (seven overs)
Tagged with: Adelaide Oval, Australia Day, Australian Bowling, Box Seat, Captain Michael, Final Test, Gambhir, Game Suspension, Hour Of Play, Kohli, Michael Clarke, Ms Dhoni, Out Of Sorts, Overall Lead, Ryan Harris, Sachin Tendulkar, Saha, Siddle, Wicket Haul, Wickets