Waugh faces defeat in Test goodbye
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Steve Waugh walks out to bat to a standing ovation in his farewell Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia were facing a desperate battle to avoid their first series loss at home in over a decade after India tightened their grip on the fourth Test in Sydney on Sunday.
Needing to make at least 506 to avoid the follow-on after India amassed a daunting first innings total of 705 for seven, Australia slumped to 342-6 by the end of the third day, still 164 runs short of their target.
Steve Waugh in his final Test was dismissed for 40 shortly before the close.
Justin Langer made 117, Matthew Hayden 67 and Simon Katich 51 not out but leg-spinner Anil Kumble and left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan combined to capture six wickets the six wickets to fall.
India declared 40 minutes after the start of play after posting their highest ever total in Test cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar finished 241 not out to register the second highest score by an Indian at Test level.
In reply, Justin Langer scored a defiant hundred and Matthew Hayden made a half-century in a whirlwind opening stand of 147 before the wheels suddenly fell off.
But it was Kumble who triggered the collapse, snatching the first four wickets before teenager Pathan claimed the prized scalps of Waugh and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist as the shadows lengthened over the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Hayden went for 67 before tea when he skied a catch to Saurav Ganguly at mid-off, then Langer departed for 117 when he top-edged an attempted pull and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel took a running catch.
Ricky Ponting failed to repeat his heroics from the previous two Tests where he scored back-to-back double centuries when he was trapped leg before wicket for 25, then Damien Martyn hit a return catch to Kumble on seven.
Standing ovation
Waugh strode out to an emotional standing ovation, with the Indian players all joining in their applause, and seemed set to reproduce one of his trademark fighting innings that have distinguished his 168 Test career.
He got off the mark from the second ball he faced and survived a couple of anxious early moments. The 38-year-old struck a total of seven boundaries during a 90-minute stay at the crease when Pathan found the edge with a ball that was angled across him and Patel took a straightforward catch.
Pathan got rid of the dangerous Gilchrist for six in the second last over of the day when he bowled him with a perfect inswinging yorker, leaving Katich as the last recognised batsman.
India, who only need to draw the match to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy, resisted the temptation to declare overnight on 650-5, adding another 55 runs for the loss of two wickets before Ganguly finally called an end to proceedings 40 minutes after the start of play.
India had already posted the highest score by a visiting team in Australia but their final total established a new record for their highest ever total in any test, eclipsing the 676-7 they made against Sri Lanka at Kanpur in 1986-87.
The last time Australia lost a series at home was against West Indies in 1992-93. The current four-match series is level at 1-1 after India won the second Test in Adelaide and Australia win the third match in Melbourne. The series opener in Brisbane ended in a draw.
