Australia close in on record

Australia need seven wickets to claim a 16th consecutive Test victory as India reached tea 79 for three on the fifth day of the second Test.

India were set 333 for the win to level the series but Stuart Clark ensured their task will be difficult after claiming the wickets of VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar.

At the break, Rahul Dravid was on 27 unbeaten while Sourav Ganguly was 18 not out.

Earlier, the hosts lost three wickets in the morning session before declaring on 401 for seven as Michael Hussey finished with an unbeaten 145.

Having resumed on 284 for four, India had quickly got the wickets of Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist and Brad Hogg.

Symonds had reached 61 before he was caught out by RP Singh and Gilchrist was out cheaply for one soon after when he hit towards long-on where Yuvraj Singh made the catch.

Hogg (one) followed suit when he nicked the ball to first slip and into the hands of the awaiting Dravid to leave Australia on 395 for seven.

Hussey and Brett Lee combined to push the hosts up to 401 before they declared 17 minutes before lunch.

India batted for two overs before the break and lost Wasim Jaffer for a duck when he was caught behind by Michael Clarke.

And after the interval Clark dismissed Laxman lbw for 20 and then Sachin Tendulkar (12) fell victim of the 32-year-old when his delivery smashed into leg stump off the inside edge.