Australia on Sunday laid the foundation to go for the last-day kill against India in the first cricket Test in Bangalore.

After the Indian tailenders led by Zaheer Khan (57 not out) stretched the first innings to 360 and narrowed down the lead to 70 runs, the visitors battled their way to 193 for five at close on the penultimate day to gain an overall lead of 263 runs.

It turned out to be engrossing contest between the bat and ball on a deteriorating Chinnaswamy track as the Australians pushed for a substantial lead to exert pressure on the hosts on the final day.

The runs were difficult to come by as the Australians kept losing wickets at regular interval but still had the upper hand in the game considering that the pitch would deteriorate further on the final day.

With just one day left, the visitors will look to add a few quick runs in the morning tomorrow before having a crack at the Indians.

Simon Katich (34) and first innings centurion Michael Hussey (31) were the notable contributors as they ensured that the Australian second did not fall into pieces.
Shane Watson (32 batting) and Brad Haddin (28 batting) added some quick runs late in the day to consolidate the position for the visitors.

Resuming at the overnight score of 313 for eight, the Indian lower order continued its sirring fightback by holding up for 85 minutes before the innings folded up for 360. Zaheer, who shared an 80-run eighth wicket partnership with Harbhajan Singh to save the blushes for India yesterday, top-scored with 57 not out to compliment with his five-wicket haul in the Australian first innings.

Zaheer overtaking Harbhajan as the top scorer was the highlight of the morning session on the fourth day. The fiesty left-arm pacer carried on with his fine knock yesterday to notch up his second Test fifty from 106 balls, when he took a two off Mitchell Johnson.

His previous highest score in Test cricket was 75 against Bangladesh when he added 100 runs for the last wicket in the company of Sachin Tendulkar in Dhaka against Bangladesh in 2004.

This morning, he lost his overnight partner, skipper Anil Kumble, who made only five on team score of 343 but after sharing a crucial 31-run stand for the ninth wicket to inch India's first innings total closer to Australia's 430 on a difficult pitch.

Ishant Sharma was the last man out for six, 25 minutes before lunch, bowled by Michael Clarke, but not before surviving for half an hour. Indian tail-enders thus contributed an invaluable 128 runs after the fall of seventh wicket -- that of Sourav Ganguly.

Mitchell Johnson was the most successful bowler for the Aussies with figures of 4/70 while all-rounder Shane Watson picked up three wickets for 45 and Michael Clarke claiming two Indian wickets.

The 52 extras conceded by Australia, their most against India, also helped swell India total. The Australian second innings started on a disastrous note as they lost opener Matthew Hayden (13) and captain Ricky Ponting (17) cheaply much to the delight of the Indians.

Hayden was trapped leg before by a late swinging delivery from Zaheer soon after lunch. The Indian medium pacer had also accounted for the toweing opener's dismissal in the first innings.

Just before Hayden's dismissal India had a chance to see the back of Katich, but Gambhir at short leg reacted late to an inside edge off Harbhajan Singh.

First innings centurion, Ponting fell to a good length angled delivery from young pacer Ishant Sharma with VVS Laxman taking a low catch at short midwicket.

Indian captain Anil Kumble, who was suffering from a sore shoulder, took the field in the 23rd over of Australia's second innings immediately after the dismissal of Ponting.

Kumble was applied ice packs by team physio and he did not bowl in the post lunch session but introduced Virender Sehwag from the BEML end for a breakthrough replacing Harbhajan Singh, who bowled a tight spell of 12 overs.

The Chinnaswamy track became a lot more difficult after the tea break with the odd ball jumping awkwardly or keeping low.

After being at 74 for two at the tea break, the visitors suddenly slumped to 128 for five with katich (34), Michael Hussey (31) and Michael Clarke (6) falling in quick succession.

Katich failed to keep an awkwardly rising delivery off Harbhajan and offered a simple catch to VVS Laxman at forward short leg while Hussey was bowled by a 'doosra' by the same bowler.