India in control as Aussies’ winning streak under threat in third test

INDIA put themselves in a strong position to deny Australia a new Test wins record thanks to some valiant batting from VVS Laxman and a fine all-round showing from Irfan Pathan in the third Test at the WACA.

Laxman’s 79 helped the tourists scrape to 294 in their second innings and set Australia an unlikely victory target of 413 — a score which would constitute the second highest successful run chase in Test history.

Such a feat would be a fitting way for Australia to beat their own record of 16 consecutive Test wins, but that looks some way away after they ended day three on 65 for two, still 348 runs short of victory, thanks to two wickets from Pathan.

Pathan held the early part of the India innings together as Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly were all dismissed.

Starting the day on 52 for one, Sehwag and Pathan made useful progress. Stuart Clark managed to get one through bat and pad to bowl Sehwag for 43.

Dravid quickly followed his colleague back to the pavilion when he nicked Lee’s away swinger into the gloves of wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist having made just three.

Tendulkar joined Pathan in the middle but Lee trapped him lbw in the crease for 13 to leave India wobbling.

It became 125 for five when Ganguly departed without troubling the scorers after edging Mitchell Johnson to Michael Clarke at first slip but Pathan and Laxman managed to reach lunch without further mishap.

Pathan, however, did not last long after the resumption, with just two added before he edged a catch to Ricky Ponting, falling four runs short of his half-century.

New batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Laxman steadied the ship as India increased their advantage, with Laxman claiming his half-century as the pair added a further 75 runs.

Andrew Symonds brought their partnership to an end when he lured Dhoni into an attempted sweep which ballooned into the air and Gilchrist made the diving catch.

That brought Anil Kumble to the crease with India on 235 for seven, and the score soon became 235 for eight as the captain attempted to drive Symonds only to edge the ball to Clarke.

RP Singh then came to the crease and he and Laxman moved the score on to 245 for eight.

The ninth wicket brought 51 runs before both fell in quick succession. First Singh (30) gloved a Clark bouncer through to Gilchrist, then Laxman’s wild swing gave Lee his third wicket and Gilchrist his fourth catch as India were bowled out for 294.

Clark finished with four for 61 while Lee contributed three for 54.

Pathan then had enough time to remove both openers; first debutant Chris Rogers (15) feathered an edge through to wicketkeeper Dhoni and Phil Jaques (16) followed with an edge to Wasim Jaffer at fourth slip.