Sydney, Jan 6 (IANS): India were on the verge of an innings defeat, the sixth consecutive overseas, as they trailed Australia by 117 with two wickets in hand at tea on the fourth day of the second cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Friday.

Ravichandran Ashwin was batting on 27 with Ishant Sharma (1) as India went into tea at 351 for eight in the second session. It was India's best batting display in the series so far but not enough to save them a Test match as Australia are on course to take a 2-0 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

India were bowled out for 191 in the first innings and Australia declared their first innings at 659 for four after a landmark 329 not out by skipper Michael Clarke.

India, resuming at 114/2 came out strongly on the fourth day determined to put on a respectable performance. They had a good first session scoring 129 but lost way during the second when they lost five wickets for 108 runs.

Gautam Gambhir was the top scorer with 83 while Sachin Tendulkar (80) was again denied his 100th international century by Australian skipper and part-time spinner Michael Clarke. V.V.S. Laxman, who had scores of 2, 1 and 2 in the series so far, came back to form with a stroke-filled 66. Pacer Ben Hilhenfaus picked up the important wickets of Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) in successive overs in the second session.

Peter Siddle struck early removing Gambhir, who missed out on a well deserved century, early caught at point by David Warner.

But there was no respite for the Australian bowlers as Tendulkar came out blasting and raced to his 65th Test half-century. The most notable partnership of the innings was the 103-run stand between Tendulkar and Laxman.

Tendulkar was patient when he walked out to bat last night and was unbeaten on eight runs from 42 balls, having allowed plenty go through to the keeper.

But during the morning session's play Tendulkar was in a hurry. The 42 runs he scored this morning to bring up his half-century came off just 47 balls. The batting maestro attacked the Australian bowlers with an array of majestic shots.

Laxman, who had scores of 2, 1 and 2 in the series so far, didn't look comfortable at the start. After surviving an early onslaught from the Australian quicks, Laxman got back his touch and looked like the player who had tormented the Australians during the past decade.

At a time when it looked that more history would be created at the SCG, Clarke struck with his left-arm spin to remove Tendulkar, whose outside edge deflected off the keeper's glove to be caught by Mike Hussey at first slip.

In 2008 against India, Clarke took three wickets in five balls in the dying overs to clinch the Sydney Test for Australia.

Tendulkar's wicket triggered a batting collapse as India slumped from 271 for three to 286 for seven. Virat Kohli (9) failed again and is likely to be replaced by Rohit Sharma in next week's third Test at Perth. Zaheer Khan blasted a quickfire 35 off 26 balls.