Cricket: A 53-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir kept Australia at bay on the final day of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Bangalore.
Tendulkar and Gambhir battled on after pace bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark had all but ended India's pursuit of an unlikely victory with a wicket each in the morning session.
Gambhir's departure after lunch forced India into their shell. But by tea, Tendulkar and VVS Laxman had consolidated the home side's position, on 130 for three.
Tendulkar was on 47 at the interval, needing just another 17 to break the record for the number of runs in Test cricket held by West Indies' Brian Lara.
Ricky Ponting declared Australia's second innings at 228 for six half-an-hours into the morning session, leaving India with a daunting target of 299 to win from a minimum 83 overs.
Australia had hoped to close in on victory in overcast conditions — and Clark, handed the new ball again, got the visitors off to a bright start when he picked up the wicket of Virender Sehwag.
The opener had already had a life — wicketkeeper Brad Haddin dropping a chance off Lee — by the time he edged a Clark delivery to Matthew Hayden at first slip.
Rahul Dravid then fell cheaply to a stunning catch from Ponting, diving at midwicket. Gambhir looked at ease until he was bowled between bat and pad by Mitchell Johnson.
Australia had started the day needing quick runs and — despite the loss of Shane Watson, bowled by Ishant Sharma — they did enough to set up the declaration.