By IANS
Sydney : Australian fast bowlers removed three Indian batsmen as the visitors were limping at 79 for three while chasing 333 till tea on the fifth day of the second Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Sunday.
Two former captains Sourav Ganguly (18 batting) and Rahul Dravid (27 batting) were struggling to save the Test as Ricky Ponting made it sure that his team can win the match by scoring 401 in the second innings and set a target of 333 for India.
As India went in to bat, they knew it is a daunting task as the highest successful fourth-innings chase was by Australia when they made 288 for two to beat South Africa two seasons ago.
Ponting’s strategy was to push India on the back-foot and defend so that he could attack them in the minimum 72 overs they have to do the job. They began well on their way to a record-equalling 16th consecutive victory by dismissing Indian opener Wasim Jaffer for a fourth-ball duck, caught behind off Brett Lee, to leave India six for one at lunch.
V.V.S. Laxman (20), who followed in next, looked in fine touch after a century in the first innings but the accuracy of Stuart Clark got the better of him. Clark sneaked one in that shaped in nicely after pitching just outside the off and Laxman missed it and was trapped leg before the wicket to leave India struggling at 34 for two.
It was no different for Sachin Tendulkar (12) also, as he departed after playing onto his stump an away going Clark delivery.
Earlier, Mike Hussey hit an unbeaten 145, his fourth hundred in four home Tests this season against Sri Lanka and India, before Australia declared at 401 for seven, 17 minutes before lunch.
Resuming at the overnight 282 for four, the Australians added 119 runs losing three wickets in the chase.
Hussey and first-innings century-maker Andrew Symonds made things simpler for Ponting to chalk out his plan by adding 128 for the fifth wicket before the latter was out caught behind off Rudra Pratap Singh for 61. In quest for quick runs, Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg perished, but Hussey remained not out to improve his already staggering Test average and hit 16 fours in his knock.
India’s skipper Anil Kumble took four wickets in a long bowl of 40 overs to finish the match with eight wickets.