Sachin misses ton as Aussies take slender lead

MOHALI: Australia came back strongly in the final session as India lost their last five wickets for a meagre 51 runs to give the visitors a slender 23-run first-innings lead at the end of the third day of the first Test at the PCA Stadium on Sunday.
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India dominated the first two sessions and just when it looked they would surge ahead, Australia wrested the initiative as a charged-up Mitchell Johnson scaled 5/64, his sixth five-wicket haul.
After Sehwag's blazing 59 on Day 2, Sachin Tendulkar (98; 189b, 13x4) and Suresh Raina (86; 128b, 14x4) fell with three-figure landmarks in sight while Rahul Dravid (77; 134b, 12x4) also missed the opportunity of surpassing Sir Donald Bradman's record of 29 Test hundreds.
Resuming at their overnight total of 110/2, India were well served by nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who saw off the crucial first hour in the morning session. Ishant's (18; 76b, 3x4) 73-minute vigil at the wicket finally came to an end when Dough Bollinger cleaned him up with an incoming delivery.
However, Australia's hopes of making more inroads were nipped in the bud as Sachin Tendulkar leaned forward and across to cream Ben Hilfenhaus through extra cover.
The experienced duo slowly turned the heat on the visitors and the scoreboard read 191/3 at lunch.
The script didn't change much post-lunch, with Dravid hitting some delightful shots on the on side while Tendulkar caressed the ball through covers besides sweeping Nathan Hauritz from outside off stump to the square-leg fence with élan.
The duo added 79 runs for the fourth wicket before Bollinger again provided the breakthrough. Dravid edged a length ball by Bollinger, which angled away from the right-hander, giving a simple catch to Tim Paine behind stumps. Suresh Raina walked into the middle as VVS Laxman couldn't bat due to back spasm. India amassed 89 runs between lunch and tea as the match entered the third session, which saw the balance tilt just like on the previous two days.
With Hauritz unable to trouble the batsmen, Ponting rotated his three seamers and all-rounder Shane Watson, but both Tendulkar and Raina continued to pick up singles easily. However, Tendulkar was denied of his 49th Test century when he shuffled across to a quicker delivery from North.
MS Dhoni (14; 18b, 1x4, 1x6) was given a dubious decision when third umpire Sanjay Hazare ruled him out even though replays suggested it may have fallen just short of the fielder Shane Watson. Harbhajan edged Johnson behind stumps in the next delivery while Raina was trapped in front by the left-arm seamer. Laxman offered a simple catch to Michael Clarke at slip off Hauritz.