India takes substantial lead, after Aussies collapse

Team Indian scored 52 runs for the loss of one wicket on the second day of the third Test match against Australia at Perth. This took their lead to a solid 170 runs, with Virender Sehwag looking in good form with the bat. It was an all round performance by India that put them in the drivers seat.

Perth, Jan 17 : Team Indian scored 52 runs for the loss of one wicket on the second day of the third Test match against Australia at Perth. This took their lead to a solid 170 runs, with Virender Sehwag looking in good form with the bat. It was an all round performance by India that put them in the driver's seat.

Australian pace spearhead Stuart Clark was the only bowler who made inroads in the Indian batting line-up, as he claimed the wicket of opener Wasim Jaffer.

Jaffer made 11 runs before Mike Hussey caught him at gully. India had acquired a lead of 168 runs by the time the wicket fell as Irfan Pathan walked in to play the role of a night watchman.

Earlier, skipper Anil Kumble became first Indian bowler to claim 600 Test wickets when he took the scalp of Andrew Symonds, who was caught by Rahul Dravid at slip for 66. Later on he wrapped up the Australian first innings at 212 by claiming the wicket of Shaun Tait.

Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist had resurrected Australia's innings before tea, but Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket and a fine spell from RP Singh sent them sliding to 212 all out, a deficit of 118.

It was Australia's lowest first-innings score in a home Test since Sri Lanka bowled them out for 207 in Darwin in 2004. On that occasion, they still won comfortably, but it will take a special effort to extend their remarkable winning streak here.

Australia were all out for 212 runs in their first innings on the second day of the third cricket Test against India at WACA in Perth. India got a decent lead of 118 runs. RP Singh was the star of the Indian bowling line-up as he claimed four key wickets.

The Indian bowlers didn't let the opponent batsmen settle into a rhythm and earned the visitors a window of opportunity for a win.

Kumble joined fellow spinners Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan when he reached the milestone on day two of the second Test against Australia in Perth.

Warne and Muralitharan both surpassed 700 Test wickets in their careers.

He is also one of only two players to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings, achieving the feat against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999 - the other was England's Jim Laker in 1956.

ANI