Australia On The Brink Of Series Clean Sweep

Australia On The Brink Of Series Clean Sweep

Australia reduced Indai to 166 for six at stumps on the penultimate day of the series

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 604-7 dec. & 167-5 dec. (Ponting 60no) v
India 272 (Kohli 116, Siddle 5-49) & 166-6
Fourth Test, Adelaide, day four
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Australia are on the brink of sealing a 4-0 Test series clean sweep over India after they closed day four of the final Test in Adelaide needing four further wickets to win.

After declaring their second innings on 167 for five to set India a victory target of 500, three wickets from Nathan Lyon and two from Ryan Harris reduced the tourists to 166 for six at stumps.

Ricky Ponting added an unbeaten 60 to his double-century in the first innings as Australia forced the pace when they batted to give their bowlers plenty of time to dismiss India.

Lyon finished the day with figures of three for 57, Harris returned two for 25 and first-innings centurion Virat Kohli was run out for 22.

Ponting added 71 with Michael Clarke (37) for the fourth wicket before the captain was caught behind off Umesh Yadav. India's other success came when Mike Hussey was trapped in front by Ishant Sharma for 15.

Brad Haddin was unbeaten on 11 alongside Ponting, who faced 96 balls and hit five fours, when Australia closed their innings.

An early breakthrough with the ball arrived when Harris had Gautam Gambhir (3) caught behind by Brad Haddin and he struck again to have Rahul Dravid caught by Hussey for 25.

At the other end, Virender Sehwag was blazing away, blasting 62 in 53 balls with 12 fours before his entertaining knock came to an end at the hands of Lyon, who had him caught by Ponting.

Sachin Tendulkar (13) was caught by Ed Cowan as off-spinner Lyon grabbed his second wicket and that was followed by his third when VVS Laxman (35) offered a catch to Shaun Marsh.

Kohli's run out followed just four balls later, leaving Sharma (2 not out) and Wriddhaman Saha (0 not out) to fend off Australia when stumps were drawn.

Ponting and Clarke both scored double-centuries in Australia's first innings to put them in a commanding position which was reinforced when they bowled India out for 272.

© Cricket World 2012