By David Ornstein

Clarke's innings all-but ended India's chances of winning the Test

Michael Clarke's century and India's loss of two late wickets gave Australia an outside chance of claiming a shock victory in the third Test in Delhi.

Clarke was dropped on 21, 90, 94 and 106 before making a watchful 112 that helped guide the tourists from 338-4 to 577 all out, a deficit of just 36.

Brett Lee then bowled Virender Sehwag, who earlier took 5-104, and Stuart Clark took nightwatchman Ishant Sharma.

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid led India to 43-2 at stumps, a lead of 79.

The pair looked comfortable at the close and will need to stand firm when Australia begin their quest for early wickets on Sunday morning.

India's situation going in to the final day is almost completely opposite to that which they faced 24 hours earlier.

At that stage they were hoping to push for a win that would secure an unassailable 2-0 series advantage but now they must bat for the majority of day five to ensure a draw.

The turnaround can be largely attributed to India's woeful performance in the field.

From the outset, Amit Mishra was inducing wicked turn from a pitch that by now had slowed considerably and was beginning to break up.

606: DEBATE The Aussie quicks are showing there is a way to bowl fast on a pitch without seam movement or swing - bang in short and attack the body cRICKETmOGUL

With his 11th delivery Mishra tempted Clarke to skip down the wicket and drive straight to Ishant Sharma at mid-off.

But the paceman's catching technique was poor and he let the ball squeeze through his hands at head height.

Clarke reacted to his reprieve by taking a cautious approach but he, like the more aggressive Shane Watson (36), was all too happy to dispatch any short stuff to the boundary rope.

In a bid to disrupt the pair's rhythm, Sharma came into the attack but his poor morning continued as Australia took 16 runs off his first two overs.

It required Sehwag and India captain Anil Kumble, who was taken to hospital on Friday with a cut finger that needed 10 stitches, to reduce the run-rate.

Just four runs had been conceded in three overs before Sehwag generated huge turn from outside off and knocked back the advancing Watson's leg stump.

Clarke seemed unaffected by the loss of his partner and recorded his half-century by skipping down the track and lofting Kumble over mid-on for four.

That, allied to Brad Haddin's immediate willingness to open his shoulders, helped Australia pass their follow-on target of 413.

Part-time spinner Sehwag returned Test best figures of 5-104

Kumble sent down a googly that snuck between the advancing Haddin's bat and pad, providing wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni with a straight-forward stumping.

Remarkably, it was Kumble's first wicket of the series and he now has 56 wickets in six Tests at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.

Australia went in for lunch on 436-6 and batted with even more grit, determination and discipline in the middle session.

Clarke and Cameron White (44) displayed impressive concentration and, with boundaries at a premium, their running between the wickets was of the highest order.

Kumble and Mishra between them conceded only 31 runs in an 11-over spell together but they could not find a way through the Australians' rearguard.

White briefly illustrated his renowned Twenty20 skills, clubbing Kumble for a maximum over mid-on to lead Australia past 500.

But India then wasted two more glorious opportunities to dismiss Clarke, both off the bowling of Sehwag.

The 28-year-old saw a top-edge put down by VVS Laxman running backwards at mid-wicket and then his sweep to deep midwicket was inexcusably grassed by Mishra.

Sehwag continued to plug away and deservedly completed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket when White, also attempting to sweep, played on.

Lee took one of two India wickets late on to put Australia on top

But Australia were the happier side at tea after Clarke cut Sehwag between cover and point to reach three figures.

Clarke almost lost another partner when Brett Lee laced an airborne drive to Sachin Tendulkar in the covers.

The chance was not easy and it would have been a sensational catch had Tendulkar, diving high to his left, clung on.

Kumble soon trapped Lee leg-before, although Hawk-Eye suggested the delivery would have bounced over the stumps.

It seemed as though a message had been sent to Clarke to up the run-rate but the right-hander's first attempt to do so resulted in him crashing Mishra to Zaheer at mid-off.

Mitchell Johnson was well caught by Kumble off his own bowling to end Australia's innings but Lee and Clark then struck to ensure a tense final day.

Lee generated pace and swing from his very first ball and, in the eighth over, got one to nip back and clatter Sehwag's stumps via an inside edge.

Five balls later, Clark banged one in short and Sharma could only fend the ball into Australia captain Ricky Ponting's hands.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version