Indian spinners took full advantage of an ever-deteriorating Feroze Shah Kotla strip as they reduced Australia to 89 for five in their second innings at lunch, on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test, here today.
Australia now have an overall lead of 79 runs and any target in the range of 120 could be extremely difficult for India to chase considering the below-par nature of the strip, which is playing all sorts of tricks with the passage of every delivery.
With as many as seven wickets (including two remaining Indian wickets) falling in the opening session of the third day, it looks highly unlikely that the match will go into the fourth morning.
With the pitch prepared by Venkat Sundaram resembling a minefield, Ravindra Jadeja (3/28) created terror in the minds of the Australian batsmen with vicious turn and bounce that was on offer.
Steven Smith (17 batting) and Matthew Wade (16 batting) added unbeaten 36 runs after Australia were reduced to 53 for five at one stage.
Jadeja, first removed Glenn Maxwell, who was sent up the order to open the innings. Maxwell (8) didn't come fully forward to a delivery from Jadeja that pitched on the middle stump and turned a shade to hit the off-stump.
David Warner (8) was then trapped leg before in Jadeja's very next over as the batsmen played a length ball on the backfoot. He was caught plumb in-front.
