India hold up Australia

Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh claimed two wickets apiece as India checked Australia's hopes of winning the first Test in Bangalore.

Zaheer, India's number nine, bludgeoned an unbeaten 57 in the morning session as the hosts were bowled out for 360, limiting their first-innings deficit to 70.

And the quick runs that Australia sought proved elusive in the second innings, with the India bowlers keeping the tourists to fewer than three runs an over.

Australia nevertheless closed the fourth day on 193 for five - a commanding lead of 263 - but it remains to be seen whether there is sufficient time to force a positive result.

Zaheer effected the first breakthrough when he removed opener Matthew Hayden for 13, leg before to a delivery that arced in sharply from over the wicket.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni - captaining India in place of Anil Kumble, who was feeling the effects of a shoulder injury - had spread the field while Australia's openers were at the crease.

But there were three men around the bat, as well as Rahul Dravid at slip, when Ricky Ponting took strike.

Mike Hussey is bowled offering no stroke to Harbhajan Singh as Australia are kept in check

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Off-spinner Harbhajan enjoyed the better of his early exchanges with the Australia captain, but it was Sharma who had Ponting taken by VVS Laxman at a thoughtfully-positioned short midwicket.

Simon Katich - dropped by Gautam Gambhir on five - pushed, whipped, poked and missed in equal proportion before jabbing at a Harbhajan delivery that bounced more than expected and provided Laxman with a simple catch at silly point.

Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey, who made 31, then fell in quick succession, briefly raising hopes of an unlikely India victory.

Clarke was Sharma's second victim, a lazy, uppish drive off a slower delivery ending the Australia vice-captain's innings.

Hussey was bowled shouldering arms to a Harbhajan top-spinner, but Shane Watson and Brad Haddin rode their luck during an unbroken stand of 65 for the sixth wicket to reassert Australia’s advantage.

Kumble returned to the field in the final session and sent down seven overs without taking a wicket. He has bowled 50 overs in the match without success.

Earlier in the day, Zaheer, who gave notice of his prowess with the bat in reaching 35 not out yesterday, added a further 31 with Kumble after India resumed on 313 for eight.

He went to 50 when he turned left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson to square-leg for two, while Kumble thwarted Brett Lee and Johnson for close to an hour before he was trapped in front by Watson, who finished with Test-best figures of 3-35.

Zaheer was left stranded when Sharma, who exchanged words with Johnson during his stay, was bowled through the gate by Clarke.