Australia bag huge lead

Siddle's five-for keeps hosts in charge despite Kohli resistance

Last Updated: January 27, 2012 7:37am

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Peter Siddle celebrates his five-wicket haul on day three in Adelaide

Sky Bet

Australia look certain to emulate England and wrap up a 4-0 Test series whitewash over India after dismissing the tourists for 272 on the third day in Adelaide despite Virat Kohli's battling century.

Kohli struck a valiant 116 but found little support from his team-mates as the deflated Indians were left facing a first-innings deficit of 332.

The rot set in early as Sachin Tendulkar again failed to convert a promising start into a landmark and long-awaited 100th international hundred when he was sent packing for 25.

Siddle, with the second ball of his second over of the morning, landed a nice leg-cutter which drew Tendulkar forward and with a slightly open face, the Little Master pushed a low catch to Ricky Ponting diving forward at second slip.

Siddle struck again in his next over when Gautam Gambhir (34) fended a bouncer to gully, and VVS Laxman made a cautious 18 before edging an attempted dab off Nathan Lyon.

Rearguard

But with India in the mire on 118-5, Kohli and Wriddhiman Saha lifted spirits with a stand of 114 and looked set to span the entire afternoon session until Saha (34) shouldered arms to Ryan Harris and lost his off stump on the stroke of tea.

Siddle removed Ravichandran Ashwin and Zaheer Khan in consecutive balls to bag a five-wicket haul - his fifth in Test cricket - but Kohli brought up a maiden Test century off 199 balls and took his boundary tally to 13 fours and a six before being last man out lbw to Ben Hilfenhaus.

Australia opted not to enforce the follow on, and - as in the first innings - India picked up early wickets.

Ashwin removed openers David Warner (28) and Ed Cowan (10), while Shaun Marsh's poor run continued as he was trapped lbw for a duck by Khan before the hosts closed on 50-3.

But that's already a lead of 382, while the sight of first-innings double-centurions Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke together at the close is a further ominous sign for India ahead of day four.