Williams was overjoyed by Tendulkar's dismissal More photos from Melbourne

Brad Williams took 4-53 to leave Australia needing to score only 95 on the final day to level the Test series against India.

Sachin Tendulkar (44) was among his victims as India were bowled out for 286 in their second innings.

Rahul Dravid batted for five and a half hours to make 92 before he was caught behind off Brett Lee.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly retired hurt after being hit by a Williams bouncer but returned later to make a brave 73.

India began the day in trouble on 28-2 but saw off the possibility of an innings defeat with some determined batting.

We might not win but there's always hope Rahul Dravid More player reaction

They had only added 11 to their total when Ganguly was struck on the back of the helmet by Williams, a blow which left him feeling groggy and unable to continue.

It completed an unusual double with Australian captain Steve Waugh having to retire hurt on the after being struck on the elbow.

Ganguly's exit resulted in Tendulkar coming to the crease under extreme pressure after managing only 38 runs in his four previous innings in the series.

The gulf between India and Australia has been shown in Melbourne From Jason Have your say on TMS

He kept Dravid company for almost two hours and hit five fours before a rash stroke resulted in his downfall.

VVS Laxman followed for 18 when he was caught by Matthew Hayden off spinner Stuart MacGill.

His departure saw Ganguly return to the middle and he and Dravid took the score to 253, but the second new ball proved India's undoing as their last six wickets went down in 16 overs for just 33 runs.

Sourav Ganguly felt the force of a Williams bouncer

After Lee had denied Dravid a century, Ganguly's innings came to an end when he was bowled off the inside edge by left-armer Nathan Bracken.

Williams removed Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble in the space of three deliveries and then picked up his fourth wicket when Zaheer Khan was caught at slip by Hayden.

It was then just a question of whether India could survive until the close, but Hayden took his third catch of the innings to dismss last man Ashish Nehra for nought off MacGill, leaving Parthiv Patel unbeaten on 27.

Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh (captain), Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Brad Williams, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill.

India: Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (captain), V.V.S. Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Ashish Nehra.