India regained much of the ground byclaiming four wickets in the final session as Australia failedto capitalise on a century partnership for the opening wicketin the third and penultimate cricket Test here today.
At stumps on the second day, Australia were 273 for sevenwith comeback man, Steven Smith and Mitchell Starc, batting on58 and 20 respectively.
While Ravindra Jadeja proved to be the surprise packagefor India with three wickets, including two in two deliveries,it was Ishant Sharma's late burst that pushed Australia on thebackfoot after Ed Cowan and David Warner were back on trackwith a 139-run partnership for the first wicket after MichaelClarke opted to bat.
His flagging career on the line after a string offailures, Cowan silenced the doubting Thomases with a doggedknock of 86, which consumed 238 balls. His partner, Warnermade a fluent 71 off 147 balls with help of nine fours. Cowanfound the fence eight times, but will be disappointed at notbeing able to convert his efforts into a century, despitegetting two lives.
The duo's efforts, though, were a bit undone with theloss of seven wickets in the final two sessions of play.
Ishant had Brad Haddin and Moises Henriques bowled toreduce Australia to 244 for six late into the final session ofplay at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, where thefirst day was washed out due to a heavy downpour.
Jadeja returned and immediately had Peter Siddle trappedin front of the wicket.
Making a comeback after more than two years in thewilderness, Smith stood firm and showed the right mix ofaggression and resolve against the Indian spinners.
After Cowan departed, caught by Virat Kohli offRavichandran Ashwin at first slip, it was left to Smith toensure that Australia carry on the fight in this must-wingame.