Mohali, Mar 17 (IANS): India added 95 more runs losing four wickets in the post-lunch session on the fourth day of the third cricket Test against Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here Sunday to lead by 71 runs.
At tea, India were poised at 479/7 with Virat Kohli and Bhuvneshwar Kumar batting on 50 and 17, respectively, in response to Australia's first innings total of 408.
Murali Vijay, who completed his third Test century in the morning, could add only 11 runs before perishing for a magnificent 153 which included 19 boundaries and three sixes.
The visitors then went through the Indian middle order who failed to capitalise on the record-breaking 289-run opening wicket stand between Vijay and debutant Shikhar Dhawan.
Vijay made his way back to the pavilion after being caught plumb by left arm pacer Mitchell Starc. Starc, who made Australia's highest score (99) in the first innings, struck again within a span of three balls as he found skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (4) right in front of the stumps.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (8) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4) could not provide enough support to Kohli as they got out cheaply. Right arm pacer Peter Siddle clinched both their wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave time to Kohli to settle down and score his sixth Test half-century.
In the morning session, Dhawan fell 13 short of a double century. The Delhi batsman, who became the toast of India after scoring the fastest century on debut in the history of cricket Saturday, could add only two runs Sunday before ending his great innings for 187. His unbeaten knock of 185 Saturday had already become India's highest total for a batsman on debut and sixth highest in the world.
After Dhawan fell, in-form batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (1) also had to walk back to the pavilion, lasting just 13 balls at the crease. Pujara was unfortunate to be given leg before off the bowling of Siddle (3/67). Reviews clearly showed he had edged the ball before it hit the pads, which went unnoticed by the umpire.
Tendulkar provided good support to Vijay before getting out for 37.
Off-break bowler Nathan Lyon was the first to provide the breakthrough in the morning as he clinched the prized wicket of Dhawan while leg spinner Steven Smith took Tendulkar's wicket.