INDIA ON VERGE

Hosts need just 87 more runs as Australia collapse

DHARAMSALA

INDIA were on the verge of a series victory yesterday after Australia collapsed to 137 all out in their second innings and at the close India needed just 87 to win with 10 wickets to spare.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (3-24) shared six wickets as Australian wickets tumbled on a fizzing wicket in their second innings on day three of the fourth Test. Umesh Yadav also took 3-29 as India were left with a 106-run target.

At stumps, India were 19-0, needing another 87 runs to win the Test and the BorderGavaskar Trophy. Lokesh Rahul was unbeaten on 13, while Murali Vijay was six not out.

Australia lost five wickets on either side of tea. After tea, Glenn Maxwell (45) was the first to go, as Ashwin trapped him lbw.

Mathew Wade (25 not out) and Pat Cummins (12) then added 15 runs for the seventh wicket, before Jadeja had Cummins caught at slip.

Jadeja then had Steve O’Keefe (0) caught at short leg. When Nathan Lyon (0) edged Umesh Yadav to second slip, Australia had lost three wickets for one run in the space of 18 balls.

There was drama before the last wicket fell. Murali Vijay claimed a catch at slip off Ashwin