Australia crashed to 3-75 in their second innings on Sunday and face an uphill task to avoid another massive defeat in the third Test against India with one day’s play remaining.

Trailing 2-0 and needing to win the last two matches to square the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Michael Clarke’s side look like sitting ducks against India’s bowling attack, especially with the skipper Clarke yet to bat because of a sore back.

Australia need another 16 runs to make India bat again.

David Warner played a loose cut shot and was caught behind for two to paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the third delivery of the innings.

Kumar (3-25) also removed Ed Cowan lbw for eight at 2-35 and Steve Smith was bowled by Kumar for five.

Phil Hughes, with just 27 runs in his first five knocks in the series and clinging desperately to his place in the side, was sent in at No.3 and has smashed a defiant 53 not out off 68 balls.

Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon is unbeaten on four.

Earlier, India claimed a first-innings lead of 91 after tea with a total of 499.

Paceman Peter Siddle showed his trademark grit on a flat Mohali pitch to claim 5-71 off 29.1 back-breaking overs.

Spinners Lyon (1-124) and Xavier Doherty (0-87) had little impact while occasional leggie Smith (1-63) served up plenty of half-trackers in his 10 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan (187) and Murali Vijay (153) hit centuries in a 289-run stand, having resumed on Sunday on 0-283.

India went to lunch at 3-384 and moved ahead of Australia’s 408 in the 101st over, which was the last with the old ball.

Mitchell Starc’s inswingers claimed two lbws to remove Vijay and MS Dhoni (four) in the first five balls with the new cherry.

Siddle dismissed Ravindra Jadeja (eight) and Ravi Ashwin (four) in consecutive overs as India slumped to 7-431.

Kumar (18) was caught behind to Moises Henriques shortly after tea, ending a 61-run partnership with Virat Kohli (67 not out).

Siddle took the last two wickets to fall to move to 148 from 40 Tests.