MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 15:35:54| >> :600:2251448:2251448:

India keep wickets in run chase against Australia

India need a further 276 runs to win the fourth Test after reaching lunch at 73-1.

India have kept their faint hopes of victory alive in the fourth Test after Australia could only take one wicket before lunch at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The hosts declared overnight after captain Steve Smith surpassed Sir Don Bradman's record for most runs in a Test series against India.

Nathan Lyon of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha of India during day five of the Fourth Test match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 10, 2015© Getty Images

Chasing 349 to win, India didn't look in any rush for victory in the opening half-hour, scoring just 10 runs on a slow, spin-friendly pitch.

Ryan Harris found a touch of away swing before the drinks break but couldn't entice the outside edge out of first-innings centurion Lokesh Rahul, despite a play and miss.

The opener soon lost his wicket after gloving spinner Nathan Lyon (1-45) into the grateful hands of David Warner at short leg.

Lyon then thought he had Rohit Sharma out stumped off the next ball, but television replays proved inconclusive and the Indian right-hander was granted a reprieve.

However, the Australians tightened the screw as India went 39 balls without scoring, and their hopes of victory looked to have gone as well.

Sharma (19*) and Murali Vijay (35*) managed to break the Aussie stranglehold and reach the lunch break at 73-1, still 279 runs away from India's target with two sessions remaining.

ID:197941: cacheID:197941:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3533:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Australia all-rounder Shane Watson plays a pull shot on day one of the fifth Investec Ashes Test against England at The Oval on August 21, 2013
Read Next:
Australia lose Warner in attacking start
>