India reached 1-73 at lunch on day five of the fourth Test, with Nathan Lyon looming as the man most likely to bowl Australia to victory in Sydney.

Steve Smith declared prior to the start of play at the SCG on Saturday, setting the tourists a victory target of 349 runs.

Australia’s 2-288 against South Africa in 2006 is the record for a successful run-chase in an SCG Test.

India started positively, reaching 0-48 after almost an hour before Lyon created the initial breakthrough.

Lyon’s sharp-turning delivery flicked KL Rahul’s glove, with David Warner claiming the catch at leg slip.

The offspinner was almost on a hat-trick as third umpire Simon Fry fretted over every frame while reviewing Brad Haddin’s attempted stumping.

Fry gave Rohit Sharma the benefit of the doubt, but the right-hander’s torrid time at the crease continued.

Sharma needed 21 deliveries and almost half an hour to get off the mark, with the hosts bowling five maidens in a row after Lyon dismissed Rahul.

Sharma settled to loft a six and sweep a four off Lyon’s 10th over.

Lyon, thrown the ball after five overs, also copped some treatment from Murali Vijay who took 16 runs off his third over.

However that included a sharp edge that rocketed off Haddin’s leg and fell safe.

Josh Hazlewood kept it incredibly tight, conceding one run in his five-over spell.

Mitchell Starc looked Australia’s most potent paceman in the muggy conditions, causing both Vijay and Sharma some uncomfortable moments.

Smith bowled himself for one over before lunch, but Vijay (35no) and Sharma (19no) were unperturbed by his part-time legspin.

Australia are seeking a third victory in the four-Test series, having reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar trophy with a draw in Melbourne.