Sehwag falls early in chase of 292

Lunch India 282 & 1 for 24 (Gambhir 6*, Dravid 5*, Hilfenhaus 1-4) trail Australia 333 & 240 (Hussey 89, Ponting 60, Yadav 4-70) by 268 runs

James Pattinson's assured 37 not out helped Australia set India a stiff victory target

India lost Virender Sehwag early in their quest for the highest fourth-innings chase at the MCG in 58 years, after James Pattinson led a vigorously wagging Australian tail to a lead of 291 on the fourth morning of the first Test.

Sehwag sliced a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery bending away from him to gully, where Michael Hussey held a smart catch to give the hosts the ideal start to their defence. Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid reached lunch at 1 for 24.

Hussey had added only 10 to his overnight 79 before receiving a blistering delivery from Zaheer Khan, but Pattinson and Hilfenhaus frustrated India's bowlers with a stand of 43 that took the total to 240. Pattinson's unbeaten 37 was his highest first-class score, but there are sure to be better days with the bat if he retains the technique demonstrated here.

Hilfenhaus proved a worthy ally, playing one or two sparkling strokes of his own. The visitors slipped all too easily into run-saving mode against the hosts' last pair until Hilfenhaus edged Ishant Sharma into the slips. The last team to achieve a fourth-innings target of such dimensions was South Africa's 4 for 297 to beat Australia in 1953.

Sehwag and Gambhir began the chase carefully, Sehwag even offering a rare forward-defensive blade to Hilfenhaus. But he could not contain himself totally, and Hussey was delighted to grasp a sharp chance as the interval beckoned.

Earlier, resuming with a lead of 230, Hussey and Pattinson began soundly, finding gaps here and there, and occasionally stepping out to attack bowling of high calibre. Pattinson's good-morning cover drive to Umesh Yadav was the equal of anything managed by a batsman in this match.

Hussey was fortunate to go past 80, flicking at a Yadav delivery that swung down the legside and getting the merest of touches - as revealed by Hot Spot. India's appeal was denied, and in the next over Hussey picked up two boundaries, one deliciously through cover, another streakily through the slips, to move to 89.

Zaheer persisted, however, and off the fifth ball of the over he found a dastardly delivery that pranced at Hussey and moved away, clipping the outside edge on the way to MS Dhoni. An outstanding ball to conclude an outstanding innings.

Hilfenhaus walked out as the last man - many worse batsmen having occupied the position for Australia. Pattinson leant into another consummate cover drive from Yadav, but on 15 he did not control a hook and offered up a swirling chance. Running in from fine leg but never sure of himself, Zaheer dropped it.

From there each run accrued was painful for the visitors, the partnership assuming unsavoury proportions for India and making it past the drinks break. R Ashwin was introduced as Dhoni searched for the wicket, but it was ultimately collected by Ishant, who had bowled far better than his two wickets for the match suggested.