Steve Barrett
at Adelaide Oval
A timely Ryan Harris wicket on the stroke of tea has nullified India's hard work in the middle session and ensured Australia remains right on top on day three of the fourth Test at Adelaide Oval.
With inexperienced duo Virat Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha looking like surviving the entire middle session against a flagging Aussie attack, Harris created the breakthrough in the final over before tea when, shortly after the new ball had been taken, he angled one in on a length which hit Saha's off stump after the keeper misjudged by shouldering arms.
Saha (35) and Kohli (91 not out) - closing in on a maiden Test century - had helped India fashion a spirited revival to progress the tourists' score from a ragged 5-122 at the luncheon interval to a respectable 5-225 before Saha fell.
Despite the efforts of the greenhorn pair - who had played a combined eight Tests leading into this match - in engineering a rare session victory to the tourists, the Test remains very much on Australia's terms, with India still requiring a further 180 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Kohli looked particularly assured and showed a touch of class as he brought up his fifty - the first Indian to do so in this match - off 100 balls, with an attractive flick through mid-wicket off Ben Hilfenhaus.
The 23-year-old was joined in the middle by Saha moments before the lunch break after India, despite the batsman-friendly conditions on offer, lost three wickets in a disastrous first session.
Peter Siddle (3-42) has been the best of the Aussie bowlers, getting rid of India's acting captain Virender Sehwag late yesterday with an athletic one-handed caught and bowled before snaring Sachin Tendulkar (25) and Gautam Gambhir (34) in back-to-back overs in the first hour of play today.
VVS Laxman (18) nicked to Brad Haddin after playing an ordinary shot against off-spinner Nathan Lyon to have the Indians on the edge of disaster at 5-111.
Saha looked composed and largely played the support role but showed his ability to play some attacking shots as well, most notably his slog sweep off Lyon which sailed into the Chappell Stands for six.
Kohli similarly deposited a Michael Clarke long hop into the western grandstand for six with a fierce pull over mid-wicket.
The pair saw off Lyon, Clarke and Mike Hussey for 12 straight overs before the Aussies opted to take the new ball, which Harris struck with.
Earlier, Clarke declared the home side's innings closed shortly after tea on day one at 7-604.
Ricky Ponting (221) and Clarke (210) were the stars of the home side's innings, the pair snatching the game away from India emphatically.