By IANS
Adelaide : Indian bowlers toiled hard but without any success as Australia took their first-innings total to 158 for no loss by lunch interval on the third day of the fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval here Saturday.
At the interval, Matthew Hayden was confidently marching towards his 30th century (86, 56 balls, 8x4s, x6) and Phil Jacques was on 59 (154 balls, 3x4s).
In the morning session, Indians bowled 30 overs and Australian batsmen scored 96 runs, which clearly indicates their dominance in perfect batting conditions.
Australia are chasing India’s first-innings’ 526 here and are now 368 behind the touring team.
Earlier, Australia resumed the day at 62 for no loss in 21.0 overs, with Hayden batting on 36 and Jaques on 21. The two did not show any great hurry to score quickly and defined the Indian bowlers for most part of the two-hour opening session.
That the batsmen were looking to occupy the crease was evident from the fact that they did not show any huge urgency to go after the bowlers. The bowlers, except for lanky Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma, did not impress too.
Hayden, playing his 94th match, reached his 28th half-century off 99 balls (6x 4s). Jaques, at the other end, reached his 50 off 131 balls (3x4s) in his eighth Test.
The two left-handed batsmen completed their 150-run partnership off 287 balls, with Hayden scoring 82 and Jaques 55.
Australia, celebrating their Australia Day, lead the series 2-1. India, celebrating their Republic Day, will have to get 20 wickets in quick time to draw he series.