Australia bowled out for 369, take 208-run lead

The Indian bowlers showed tremendous gumption in the first two sessions today and managed to restrict Australia`s lead to 208 runs, especially after the hosts had resumed the day comfortably placed at 140 for no loss.

After Yadav`s triple burst in the opening session, Indian bowlers claimed seven wickets conceding only 113 runs in the extended post-lunch. In the process Yadav also claimed his maiden five-wicket haul but it was the lion-hearted bowling of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who bowled in tandem for 16 overs, that revived the dispirited Indians.

The pace duo of Zaheer (2/91) and Ishant (1/89) bowled tirelessly for eight overs each and accounted for three wickets between them, which was only improved when Yadav removed the tail effectively. While the guile of Zaheer proved the undoing of Australian skipper Michael Clarke (18) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (0), Ishant Sharma accounted for the dangerous David Warner (180).

R Vinay Kumar (1/73) scalped Michael Hussey`s wicket and then Yadav cleaned up the tail, adding two more wickets to his tally. Ishant got the afternoon going when he had Warner brilliantly caught at the long on boundary by Yadav for 180. The diminutive left-hander, just before being out, had hit Zaheer Khan ferociously for a six over extra covers and then cut the next delivery for four.

Warner batted for 261 minutes and 159 balls and hit 20 fours and five towering sixes during his breathtaking knock. Zaheer then got into the action and induced an edge from Clarke from round the wicket, which India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni took gleefully behind the stumps. In his next over, Zaheer got the better of struggling Haddin, with whom he had heated war of words ahead of the match.

Out-form Haddin edged a swinging Zaheer delivery which Dhoni had no problem in accepting.

After marathon spells of eight overs each, Zaheer and Ishant were rested and Vinay Kumar and Yadav were pressed into service in their place. However, success for Vinay Kumar and Yadav were not instant as Peter Siddle scored his run smartly and put on 36 valuable runs for the seventh wicket with Hussey.

Siddle garnered most of the strike, which eventually seemed to have led Hussey`s downfall. Sensing his chance against Vinay Kumar, Hussey cut a short delivery which went straight into the hands of Virender Sehwag at gully.

Yadav then cleaned up Siddle in the next over with a peach of delivery that moved away slightly after pitching. Siddle made useful 30 runs off 31 balls with the help of four fours.

With clock nearing the tea-break time, Yadav bowled a quick short delivery which had Ryan Harris in a tangle, and the right-hander could only spoon it up for Gambhir to accept the chance at square leg.