India clawed back after a miserable batting display torestrict Australia's first innings lead to 99 runs and keep themselves afloat inthe fourth and final Test today.
After being bundled out for a paltry 104, the Indianspinners led by Anil Kumble hit back on a viciously turning track at theWankhede Stadium to dismiss the visitors for 203 in their first innings.
The seasoned Kumble wrecked the Australian innings withhis 27th five-wicket haul in Tests while left-arm spinner Murali Kartik chippedin with four wickets on a dramatic day which saw as many as 18 wickets fall.
India were five for no loss in their second innings atstumps on the second day with Virender Sehwag (4) and Gautam Gambhir (1),managing to fend off three fiery overs to reduce the lead to 94.
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Barring the in-form Damien Martyn who again came to therescue of the team with a defiant 55, none of the other Australian batsmen couldcome to terms with the spin-friendly pitch.
The home team now need to put up a more disciplinedbatting show if they are to prevent the all-conquering Australians from winningthe series with a 3-0 margin.
Resuming at the overnight score of 22-2, the hosts wereshot out for 104 in just 41.3 overs, their lowest-ever total against theAustralians at home, to blow away the advantage of winning their first toss inthe series.
It was the hosts' lowest-ever score against their rivals at home, theprevious worst being 135 in the first innings of the 1959-60 series at Delhi.
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The total was also lower than the 113 against South Africa in the first Testin 1999-2000.
But the hosts, who were dismissed ten minutes before the scheduled lunchinterval, later fought back in splendid style by utilising the vagaries of thepitch to the full.
But for Damien Martyn's superbly played 55, after being lucky to have beenlet off when on 11 by Gautam Gambhir at silly point off Murali Kartik, and thethree other dropped catches, things could have been much better for the hosts.
Chances were offered to Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke andMartyn, and luckily for the home team only Martyn made good use of the lapses.
All the Australian batsmen were tormented by the difficult pitch, but themost composed among them was Martyn who once again showed his enormous progressas a batsman in the sub-continent conditions by rescuing Australia and placingthem with a slight advantage.
Hayden made 35 with three huge sixes before perishing by trying to give thecharge to Kartik who also accounted for the prize wicket of Martyn with asuperbly bowled arm ball.
Kumble's five for 90 was his third five-wicket haul of the series and alsohelped him move past Kapil Dev as the highest wicket taker at the Wankhede.
Kartik at the other end provided ample support to the leg spinner andreturned with figures of four for 44.
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The left arm spinner's success made up for Harbhajan Singh's disappointingshow.
It was a curious case as the off-spinner, who had been the tormentor of thevisitors and whose bowling suited the conditions most, opened the bowlingwith Zaheer Khan but yet failed to take a wicket, although he was unlucky to seetwo catches dropped off him in the deep by Virender Sehwag.
Zaheer of course was immaculate once again in his opening spell when hedismissed Langer but his services were not required as the spinners had a fieldday.
India could have restricted Australia's lead to a greater extent if onlythose dropped catches had been held.
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The Indians got an early breakthrough when Langer nicked Zaheer to Dravid atslip for 12.
Hayden, who had failed to strike it big in the series, made a cautious startbefore clubbing a six each off the three spinners.
The hosts then struck a major blow by dismissing the dangerous-looking Haydenafter the burly opener seemed to have got the measure of the wicket and thespinners.
Ricky Ponting, playing his first match of the series after making a comebackfrom an injury layoff, was adjudged leg before at 37.
Earlier, Jason Gillespie wrecked the Indian top order with a deadly openingspell of 3 for 16.
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Later, Michael Kasprowicz (2-11) and off spinner Hauritz (3-16) cut a swathethrough the lower order to send India packing in nearly three hours.
The lone man to stand agape and watch the carnage at the other end was Dravidwho remained unconquered on 31, after a vigil of 176 minutes stretching back toyesterday when only 49 minutes of play was possible because of rain and badlight.
Gillespie ripped the heart out of the Indian first innings in the space ofjust 12 balls during which he sent back Sachin Tendulkar (5), VVS Laxman (1) andMohd Kaif (2) at a personal cost of only 4 runs.
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He had got rid off debutant opener Gambhir yesterday and finished the inningswith fine figures of 4 for 29. His morning spell read an impressive 7-2-16-3.
India were in danger of being skittled for their lowest ever score at home.
But Kumble struck Glenn McGrath, in the latter's second spell after changingends, for three fours in quick succession, the first two in one over, to helpIndia avoid the ignominy. Their lowest score at home was 75 against the WestIndies in 1987-88.
PTI
