Zaheer's catch put paid to the dangerous Hayden

Michael Slater and Matthew Hayden began aggressively and raised an opening stand of 82 in only 18 overs.

But the in-form Hayden, who scored 203 earlier in the match, was brilliantly caught by a diving Zaheer Khan at deep mid-wicket for 35 off Kulkarni.

Singh was the biggest threat, however, and had Slater caught at slip for 48, his highest score of the series.

The gamble of promoting Adam Gilchrist to number three failed as he made only a single before falling lbw, also to Singh, giving him a total of two runs in four innings.

Justin Langer and Mark Waugh took Australia into the lead with a stand of 48, but they were still only 30 ahead when Langer drove at debutant Sairaj Bahutule to give Laxman a second catch at slip.

The Waugh brothers added 52 for the fifth wicket as they threatened to tilt the balance back towards Australia.

Australia have hope while Waugh survives

But Singh rallied India once again, having Mark Waugh caught by Rahul Dravid for 57 for his 27th wicket of the series.

The same pair removed Ricky Ponting - Singh has claimed Ponting's wicket five times out of five in the series - to tilt the advantage India's way.

Earlier India had resumed on 480 for nine and Bahutule and Kulkarni defied Australia's bowlers for 11 overs.

Bahutule rode his luck, slashing McGrath over the slips for four and smacking a six off spinner Colin Miller.

He steered Miller to third man later in the same over for three runs to bring up India's 500.

He was not out on 21 when last man Kulkarni was trapped lbw by Miller for four to end India's first innings.

The three Test series is tied 1-1.