Adelaide: A listless India were heading for their second successive overseas whitewash after yet another irresponsible batting display reduced the visitors to 166 for six on the fourth day of the final cricket Test against Australia here on Friday.
Set a daunting target of 500, India were left with an arduous task of batting out the entire fifth day to prevent the dominating Australians to sweep the series 4-0 in what has turned out to be a completely lop-sided encounter.
Having lost 0-4 in England last year, India now face the ignominy of losing eight straight Test matches overseas.
The star-studded line-up, that has flattered to deceive throughout the series, failed once again with skipper Virender Sehwag leading the way as he got out in an atrocious manner after smashing his way to a half century.
At stumps, Ishant Sharma (2) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) were holding fort and it will be a mere formality for Australia to take the remaining four wickets on the fifth day. The Indians were still trailing by 334 runs.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon finally came on to his own with 3 for 57 in India’s second innings so far.
Opener Gautam Gambhir (3) and Sehwag (62, 53 balls, 12×4) left in the post-lunch session while Rahul Dravid (25), Sachin Tendulkar (13), VVS Laxman (35) and Virat Kohli (22) were back in the hut in the final session.
Gambhir was the first one to leave on 3 when he tried to push hard at a Ryan Harris delivery that was pitched around off-stump and moved a shade and the nick was smartly taken by Brad Haddin behind stumps.
Sehwag played in his customary manner during the 53-ball knock before charging out to a full-toss bowled by Lyon. He ballooned it up for Ricky Ponting who completed a simple catch in the covers.
Dravid, extremely sketchy during his stay at the crease played away from his body off Harris. Mike Hussey stationed at gully took an easy catch.
Sachin Tendulkar was never comfortable during his 46-minute stay at the crease before he tried to play a forward defensive stroke. The resultant bat pad was easily taken by Ed Cowan standing at short-leg.
With his international career in line, Laxman lived dangerously during his 88-ball stay.
Laxman’s fifth wicket stand with Virat Kohli yielded 52 runs off almost 22 overs before both fell in the space of four runs. (PTI)
SCOREBOARD
Australia first innings: 604-7
India first innings: 272 all out
Aus 2nd innings (ovrnight 50-3)
Ed Cowan lbw b Ashwin 10
David Warner c & b Ashwin 28
Shaun Marsh lbw b Zaheer 0
Ricky Ponting not out 60
Michael Clarke c Saha b Yadav 37
Michael Hussey lbw b Sharma 15
Brad Haddin not out 11
Total: (for five wickets, 46 overs) 167 decl.
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 13-1-38-1, R Ashwin 20-2-73-2, Ishnt Sharma 8-0-27-1, Umesh Yadav 5-0-23-1.
India (2nd Innings):
Gambhir c Haddin b Harris 3
Sehwag c Ponting b Lyon 62
Dravid c Hussey b Harris 25
Tendulkar c Cowan b Lyon 13
Laxman c Marsh b Lyon 35
Virat Kohli run out 22
Ishant Sharma batting 2
Wriddhiman Saha batting 0
Total (for 6 wkts, 56 overs) 166
Bowling: Ryan Harris 14-4-25-2, Ben Hilfenhaus 9-2-33-0, Peter Siddle 10-3-36-0, Nathan Lyon 19-3-57-3, Mike Hussey 2-0-3-0, Michael Clarke 2-0-9-0.