India raced out of the blocks in their pursuit of 155 runs to win the fourth Test against Australia and reached 1-72 at tea on Sunday’s third day of play.
The Delhi pitch has lived up to its reputation as a bunsen burner but India’s Virat Kohli (16 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (40 not out) have put the home side within 83 runs of an historic four-nil series sweep.
India have never won four Tests in a series.
Australia’s only joy in India’s 12-over second innings has been the dismissal of Murali Vijay who was bowled by spinner Glenn Maxwell for 11 after attempting a reverse sweep.
The tourists were skittled for 164 in 46.3 overs in their second innings.
Peter Siddle was last man out for 50 off 45 balls after scoring a career-best 51 in the first innings. It’s the first time a No.9 has made two half-centuries in a Test.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took 5-58 and the slow bowlers claimed nine of Australia’s 10 wickets.
Australia are facing the possibility of losing four matches in a series for the first time since the 1978/79 Ashes.
Stand-in captain Shane Watson made the bold move of promoting second-gamer Maxwell to open with David Warner on Sunday.
Jadeja bowled Maxwell (eight) in the fifth over and Warner (eight) was lbw in Jadeja’s next over.
Offspinner Ravi Ashwin knocked over Phil Hughes lbw for six.
Watson dragged a pull shot onto his stumps for five as spinner Pragyan Ojha struck and Ed Cowan (24) was lbw to Jadeja.
Steve Smith (18) and Mitchell Johnson (duck) fell in successive deliveries to Jadeja after lunch and Matthew Wade (19) was Ojha’s second victim.
The match referee could be busy after Jadeja gave Warner an animated send-off and India’s Virat Kohli was involved in two verbal confrontations with Smith and Wade.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon claimed career-best figures of 7-94 in India’s 272 after the home side had resumed on 8-266 in their first innings.