India set unlikely 499 for victory

MELBOURNE, Australia -- India have been set an imposing victory target of 499 as Australia continued their domination of the first Test in Melbourne on the third day.

Australia declared their second innnings on 351 for seven with India six without loss when stumps were drawn at the MCG on Friday.

Only three teams in Test cricket history have scored 400 or more in the fourth innings for victory with the odds heavily favoring an Australian victory on a deteriorating pitch.

The home side quickly stretched their big first innings lead in the morning session with opener Phil Jaques picking up his sixth consecutive Test half century.

Fellow opener Matthew Hayden made 47 before giving Sourav Ganguly a catch offf Harbhajan Singh, while captain Ricky Ponting also fell victim to the off-spinner for just three.

Jacques went shortly after lunch to Indian skipper Anil Kumble and Mike Hussey scored a patient 36 before he was snapped up by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip off RP Singh.

It was up to Andrew Symonds (44) and Michael Clarke to provide the momemtum for the declaration and Clarke looked set for a quickfire century until being stumped for 73 off Kumble.

Wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist was Harbhajan's third victim for 35 off 59 balls before Ponting called a halt near the close of play with Brad Hogg (35) and Brett Lee (11) at the crease.

Indian openers Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid saw them to the close, but with two full days remaining a result is looking likely.

In other cricket action on Friday, New Zealand won the one-day series against Bangladesh with a match to spare after a 102-run victory by the Duckworth/Lewis method in Napier.

Rain forced an early end to play in the second of the three-match series with Bangladesh 181 for six after 43 overs in reply to the hosts' 335 for five.

Jamie How, Peter Fulton and Jacob Oram all scored half-centuries as New Zealand posted a formidable total with Oram reaching his landmark off only 31 balls with four sixes. E-mail to a friend