By IANS
Perth : India consolidated their lead against Australia by lunch on the third day of the third Test here Friday, taking their second-innings total to 158 for five, though at the cost of four key wickets. Night watchman Irfan Pathan was still batting on 45.
At the interval, India had extended their overall lead to 276 on the third day of the third Test at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground. Pathan was batting on a well-made 45 (59 balls, 6x4s) and V.V.S. Laxman was on 18 (27 balls, 2x4s).
India had made 330 in their first innings and bowled out Australia for 212 to take a 118-run lead.
India started the third day at 52 for one, with Virender Sehwag batting on 29 and Pathan on two. Sehwag hit Michael Clark for two boundaries in successive overs, but departed soon to the fast bowler.
India lost two key wickets in six balls, the second being Rahul Dravid, to reduce them to 82 for three from 79 for one.
Before getting out, Sehwag (43, 61 balls, 7x4s) even got a life at 43 when Michael Hussey juggled the ball and dropped it at gully off fast bowler Brett Lee. But the spill did not prove costly as Clark bowled him off his pads with an inswinger in his next over.
Dravid (3, 5 balls), trying to cover drive a wide ball from Lee, only managed to snick it to wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist.
Sachin Tendulkar (13, 25 balls, 2x4s) did not last long. He fell leg before wicket to Lee as he tried to play the ball to the on side off his front foot.
Sourav Ganguly went for a duck, caught in the slip cordon off Mitchell Johnson.
Pathan and Laxman then saw off the Australian pace attack without a further blow till lunch.