The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Nagpur

Opener Simon Katich revived Australia's desperate hopes of forcing a result against India with an unbeaten 92 Friday after offspinner Jason Krejza kept the visitors in the fourth test with eight first-innings wickets.

Krejza took 8-215 from 43.5 overs - becoming just the sixth bowler to capture eight wickets in an innings of his debut test - to restrict India to 441 in the middle session of the second day before Katich guided Australia to 189 for two at stumps in reply.

Katich produced his best innings of the series with a third half-century of the contest to lift Australia once opening partner Matt Hayden was run-out for 16 and skipper Ricky Ponting (24) was bowled attempting a cut off Harbhajan Singh.

It was Harbhajan's 300th wicket in tests, making him only the third India bowler behind Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble to reach the mark.

Katich cut and drove strongly while racing to his half-century from 55 deliveries and by stumps had hit eight fours from 120 balls.

He received useful assistance from Michael Hussey, who was 45, during a 115-run partnership for the third wicket.

Krejza engineered a quick end to the home side's innings, sparking a collapse of 5-19 as India was dismissed 58 minutes after lunch on day two.

India had dominated the opening session and another massive total loomed.

Sourav Ganguly, who will retire at the end of the test, combined with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a 119-run partnership for the sixth wicket that put India in a powerful position as it pushed for a win or draw in this final match to secure a series victory and win back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In his 113th test, Ganguly fell 15 short of a farewell century when he became Krejza's fifth scalp, one of two wickets in three balls for the rookie offspinner after lunch. He bowled skipper Dhoni, who tried to paddle to fine-leg, and had Ganguly caught at first slip by Michael Clarke.

The double-strike reduced India to 423-7, and Krejza then bowled both Zaheer Khan (1) and Amit Mishra (0) in successive deliveries.

No. 11 Ishant Sharma staved off the hat trick attempt, but was the last-man out when bat-pad Katich accepted a sharp one-handed chance to his right

Krejza had grabbed the prized wickets of Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and V.V.S Laxman on the opening day and was the only Australian bowler who created regular chances.

He was the 14th Australian to capture at least five wickets in an innings in his first test, but it came at a price as he set a new record for runs conceded in an innings on debut, succeeding West Indian Omari Banks' 3-204 in 2003 against Australia.

Ganguly's dismissal prevented him - unless India bats again - from becoming the fifth batsman in test history to score a hundred in his first and last tests.

The left-hander struck eight fours during his 153-delivery knock of 85.

Dhoni offered valuable help with 56 and his half-century came from 88 balls.

Australia's fast bowlers struggled again for penetration on a flat pitch at the new Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium, with only Mitchell Johnson (1-84) and Shane Watson (1-42) taking a wicket.