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Australia out for 192, set India target of 216
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Australia were dismissed for 192 in their second innings setting India a target of 216 to win the first Test in Mohali on Monday.
Both Indian spinners struck in the second session to leave Australia 165 for six at tea on day four..
Shane Watson followed his first innings century with a brisk 56 to give a perfect start to Australia’s second innings but Ishant Sharma struck three times in the morning while his spin colleagues Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha also tasted success after lunch to peg back the visitors.
Tim Paine was batting on nine at tea which was called after Marcus North (10) fell to Harbhajan. Australia now have an overall lead of 188 runs over India.
Watson dominated an 87-run opening stand with Simon Katich (37) in what seemed a perfect morning for Australia before Sharma, who missed much of the first innings with a troubled knee, struck in quick successions.
In his eventful third over, Sharma removed Watson with his first delivery, had Ricky Ponting (4) caught at square leg off his fifth ball and Michael Clarke dismissed with the next, though umpire Billy Bowden ruled the latter a no-ball after consulting the third umpire.
The lanky paceman returned to send down a sharp bouncer in his next over which an evasive Clarke (4) could only glove to fall caught behind.
In the post-lunch session, Ojha removed Katich and Harbhajan struck twice to put Australia in a spot of bother.
The tourists were strongly placed at 87 for no loss after an attractive half-century from opener Shane Watson (56), but slipped to 100-3 in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day.
Opener Simon Katich completed 4,000 Test runs during his unbeaten 24, while Michael Hussey had yet to open his account at the break.
India were bowled out for 405 in their first innings on Sunday in reply to Australia’s 428.
Fast bowler Sharma removed Watson and skipper Ricky Ponting (four) in his first over of the second spell and nearly got a third wicket when he had Michael Clarke caught by Virender Sehwag at short mid-wicket.
But it was declared a no-ball after on-field umpire Billy Bowden of New Zealand consulted TV umpire Sanjay Hazare.
Sharma did not have to wait long for his next success as he had Clarke caught behind for four runs in his next over. He took three wickets for eight runs in his second three-over spell.
In-form Watson, who hit a hundred in the first innings, smashed one six and seven fours in his 59-ball knock before playing a Sharma delivery on to his stumps while attempting to pull.
Ponting lasted just four deliveries, pulling Sharma to Suresh Raina at backward square-leg.
Watson, who also scored a century in each innings of a practice match before the Test, batted aggressively in the morning session, punishing both seamers and spinners on an easy-paced track.
With Sharma looking unimpressive in his opening two-over spell, India introduced spin after just five overs but failed to put pressure on the Australian openers.
Watson greeted left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha with a four and then a six over long-on in the same over. He completed his 10th Test half-century off just 51 balls, flicking off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for two runs.
The second and final Test starts in Bangalore on October 9.