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Third Pickard / AP
Mohammed Siraj of India gestures to the crowd after taking five plots on Monday.
India has set a goal of 328 to win the fourth decisive round of the series at The Gabba, which remains delicately prepared after Australia was eliminated by 294 on a fourth day of reverse.
Two catches and a tail flick helped the hosts push their lead beyond 300 on Monday.
Gabba’s most successful test chase came in 1951, when Australia finished 7-236, but the hosts have fresher memories of how India incredibly salvaged a draw last week at SCG.
Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images
Australia’s Steve Smith looks dejected after Australia’s high score of 55.
Tim Paine’s team needs a win to claim the Border-Gavaskar trophy, but more rain is forecast for the final day of the series.
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“I think a tied series here for Australia … is actually as bad as a loss,” Ricky Ponting said on Seven Network.
India was due to hit 25 overs on Monday, but the game was stopped due to rain when they reached 0-4 after 1.5 overs.
Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images
The rain ended prematurely on the fourth day of the fourth test at The Gabba on Monday.
The stumps were officially removed just after 5pm local time (8pm NZT).
Speculation bubbled throughout Monday as to when Paine might testify, but India, as it has done at all times since they suffered 36 en route to a major defeat in the first test, fought back whenever Australia appeared to be on top. .
Mohammed Siraj finished 5-73, the second best figures of any Indian fast pitcher at the Gabba, after helping inflict a chaotic 4-34 collapse in the morning session.
Siraj, who made his MCG debut but now spearheads India’s unexpected attack, scored two crucial chances after lunch.
Third Pickard / AP
David Warner was the second ground to fall on Monday.
The pacemaker was fielding on the rope when he pardoned Steve Smith at 42 and then grabbed a return catch offered by Cameron Green at 14.
Siraj produced a nasty delivery that rose off the field to fire Smith for 55, while the grounds of Green (37) and Paine (27) were also a blow to Australia’s hopes of a burst of limits.
Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood added 47 runs for the last two wickets.
David Warner (48) and Marcus Harris (38) enjoyed a productive start to the day, adding 40 runs during the first seven overs after Australia resumed at 0-21.
First change bowlers Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, who combined on a 123-run seventh field that cut Australia’s first inning lead to 33, built up point ball pressure to ignite another change of momentum.
Thakur broke the 89-run partnership between Warner and Harris, the highest opening position both sides have achieved during the four-round series.
HIGHEST TOTAL OF THE FOURTH ENTRY IN THE GABBA
* Pakistan achieved 450, chasing Australia’s goal of 490 races in 2016
* England made 360, chasing 648 to beat Australia in 2006
* India lost 5-45 to be eliminated by 355, chasing 395 in 1968.
