India has upper hand

Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra each claimed a brace on the third day of the fourth Test against Australia as the tourists' hopes of clinching a series-levelling victory took a nosedive.

Simon Katich hit a fine 102 and Michael Hussey made a determined 90 to keep Australia afloat, but a patient display by the Indian attack saw Australia slip from 3-231 at lunch to 355 all out.

A 52-run seventh-wicket partnership between Brad Haddin (28) and Cameron White (46) had briefly threatened to see the Australians get close to India's first-innings total of 441, but in the end the tourists fell short to leave the host with an 86-run lead heading into day four.

There was time for one over of India's second innings late in the day, but both Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay survived without troubling the scorers.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had surprisingly rested on his heels in the morning as his bowlers played a waiting game.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant concentrated on a line outside off stump in 18 overs of unbroken pace in the morning, a tactic that almost paid off when Katich fell into the trap, edging to first slip only for Rahul Dravid to drop the chance.

Katich, who resumed from his overnight 92, completed his century by steering Ishant to third man for his ninth boundary of the innings, but fell to a reverse-swinging yorker from Zaheer just before lunch.

India conceded just 42 runs in the first session as Hussey continued to offer resistance, bringing up his half-century with an edge which fell between Dravid and VVS Laxman in the slips.

But the left-hander eventually fell to a fine piece of fielding from debutant Vijay for 90.

Hussey steered a delivery from Harbhajan just past Vijay at silly point and set off for a single. Vijay, however, lunged and collected, his throw deflected onto the stumps by Dhoni with Hussey short of the crease.

Michael Clarke had already been sent packing for eight by that point, Ishant inducing an edge which was caught behind by Dhoni.

Shane Watson fell for two when he reached forward to defend a top spinner from Harbhajan only to have the ball roll back and rattle the stumps.

After tea, Haddin and White offered stiff resistance as Dhoni refused to take the second new ball when due.

The seventh-wicket duo were subjected to a tough examination of spin but Haddin lifted the pressure by striking consecutive boundaries off Mishra.

Haddin was eventually dismissed by leg-spinner Mishra, bowling into the rough on the leg and getting the ball to spin off the blade of Haddin's limp bat and into the hands of Dravid.

Dhoni took the new ball 44 overs after it was offered, and almost immediately Ishant struck his second blow when he trapped Jason Krejza (five) in front.

White, who had been steadily closing in on his half-century, then attempted to up the pace as he stepped out to hit Harbhajan over the top, but only managed to hole out in the deep to Sehwag.

The wicket was the third in total of the innings for Harbhajan, who also accounted for Ricky Ponting on Friday.

Mitchell Johnson (five) was the last man to go, skying Mishra's delivery to Zaheer at long on.