India needs 493 to beat Aussies

MELBOURNE: At the close third days play in Boxing Day Test at The Melbourne Cricket Ground, India had reached 0 for 6 with Rahul Dravid on 3 and Wasim Jaffer on 2.

Ricky Ponting decided to make the Indians face eight overs towards the close after Michael Clarke top scored (73) for Australia in the second innings.

The Indian run chase began on a cautious note with Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer ensuring that the mistakes of losing early wickets would not be repeated. India faces the daunting task of chasing a victory target of 499 runs.

The Australian team wrapped up another brilliant performance by declaring their second innings at 351 for seven.

Australia could easily have batted into the fourth day with perfect weather forecast for the rest of the match, as they discovered in Hobart last month that hefty totals could be chased with purpose.

In Australia's most recent Test, Sri Lanka needed 507 in the fourth innings and although they fell 96 short, they may well have got there had Rudi Koertzen not incorrectly ended Kumar Sangakkara's superb innings on 192. He was one brilliant batsman; India has several, and could chase effectively.

Harbhajan Singh turned the ball viciously and got the rewards in the form of the wicket of Adam Gilchrist. The batsman got a top edge to the delivery and was caught by RP Singh at fine leg at an individual score of 35.

Skipper Anil Kumble got the wicket of Michael Clarke for 73. The wicket came at a time when the Australian batsmen seemed to be headed for a mammoth score. The batsman misjudged the line of a short one from the spin wizard and MS Dhoni collected the ball for a simple stumping.

Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan got Andrew Symonds out LBW for 44 runs.

Pacer RP Singh claimed the wicket of Mike Hussey for 36 as he edged an outswinger into the hands of Sachin Tendulkar.

Kumble claimed the wicket of Phil Jacques shortly after the opener had scored another half-century. The batsman was out caught and bowled for 51.

Harbhajan Singh claimed Ricky Ponting's wicket.