Cricket

Upper hand for Australia at end of Day 3

India were today set a daunting target of 499 to win the first cricket Test against Australia who put themselves firmly in the driver’s seat with two full days at their disposal to deliver the knockout punch.

Resuming on their overnight score of 32 for no loss, the Australians scored briskly and declared their second innings at 351 for seven to give themselves enough time to push for a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

Faced with the near-impossible task of chasing down such a monumental target, the Indians were six for no loss at close on the third day, which saw Australia further tightening the noose on the hapless visitors.