India are on the brink of defeat in the first Test against Australia.
At close of play on day 4, they were reduced to 105 for the loss of six wickets in their second innings, with vice-captain Rahul Dravid (47) and Irfan Pathan (7) putting up dour resistance on a wearing track.
Chasing a record fourth innings target of 457, after Harbhajan Singh claimed six wickets for 78 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 228 in their second essay, India's top order collapsed dramatically in the post-lunch session on Saturday.
Virender Sehwag (0), Akash Chopra (5), Sourav Ganguly (5) and VVS Laxman (3), were all back in the pavilion with barely 19 runs on the board.
With still 352 runs to get, India are still in danger of suffering their biggest defeat in Test history, when they lost to South Africa by 329 runs at the Eden Gardens in 1996-97.
Dravid's wicket will be key for the Australians on day 5, because it could be the difference between returning to their hotel rooms early or slogging it out in the Bangalore sun.
Morning session:
A houseful Chinnaswamy stadium greeted the Indian team as it walked out on Day 4.
It was a crowd that had come seeking a repeat of the miracle of Kolkata 2001; it was also a crowd willing to do any amount of drum-banging and flag-waving to carry India to victory.
The Indian team, however, knew better. The pitch was completely worn after three days of play and the bowlers would undoubtedly dominate the last two days. Not just the spinners, but also the pacemen, because this is a pitch that is keeping low; the variable bounce will no doubt be a factor.
To start off the day's proceedings, Zaheer Khan was surprisingly handed the ball. The left-armer has looked short of form throughout the Test and one thought that Irfan Pathan would have been better suited for the job if Sourav Ganguly really did want pace from one end.
If Ganguly was looking for a wicket from Zaheer, he did not get one. Harbhajan, who was bowling from the other end, kept the runs to a minimum, as the overnight batsmen, Michael Clarke and Damien Martyn, realized only nine runs in the first six overs.
Harbhajan was a changed bowler from the one on show during the first innings. He bowled much slower, using flight and subtle variation to good effect. The five-wicket haul when Australia batted in the first innings gave him a huge confidence-boost.
Clarke, meanwhile, tried to use his feet against him albeit unsuccessfully. Using your feet against spinners in India is very risky and you won't always come out on tops. It is a lesson Clarke will learn during the course of this tour and today was just another step in the making of the young Australian.
He stepped out of his crease looking to smother whatever spin Harbhajan was getting from the wicket, but the ball dipped in mid-air, beat him in flight and, as a result, he was well short of the pitch of the ball. He was forced into an awkward-looking defensive stroke. The ball took the edge and popped to Akash Chopra at short-leg off the pad. (146 for 5)
Clarke, who scored 151 in the first innings, was gone for 17. Martyn and Clarke had put on 42 for the fifth wicket.
Adam Gilchrist walked in next. His arrival normally heralds a period of quick scoring. But Harbhajan and Kumble, who came into the attack at the fall of Clarke's wicket, had settled into a rhythm and it was not going to be easy.
A period of relative calm followed before Martyn fell to the guile of Harbhajan. The right-hander fought bravely against the odds and, despite looking ill at ease, did well to score 45.
Martyn was deceived in the flight and by the turn. As he tried to turn it off the legs, he failed to keep the ball on the ground and hit it straight to Kaif, who was positioned for exactly that shot. (167 for 6)
Shane Warne failed in the first innings, but he also holds the record of scoring most runs in Test cricket without a century to his name. He certainly knows how to wield the willow. In the short session that followed, the Aussie run-rate was lifted with some unorthodox stroke-making.
Gilchrist, however, was dismissed just three balls before lunch by Kumble. The ball pitched outside the off-stump and came into the left-hander, who was pushing at the ball. The resultant inside edge popped straight to Chopra at short-leg. The Australian skipper scored 26 off 39 balls and put on 37 runs in 8.1 overs with Warne for the seventh wicket. (204 for 7)
When lunch was called, Australia had stretched their lead to 432 runs with three wickets in hand.
In the 26-over session, Australia had scored 77 runs and lost three wickets. Warne was on 26, off 32 balls, including five boundaries, and Gillespie was yet to get off the mark.
The Aussies have more than enough on the board and the task for India is cut out: salvage a draw if you can.
Post-lunch session:
Just before lunch, Chopra took a catch at short leg to help dismiss Gilchrist. After lunch, strangely, he was not in his specialist position. His place was taken by Yuvraj Singh. It was an odd move; perhaps, the only explanation for it was that Ganguly was trying to protect Chopra for his batting stint later.
But things worked out perfectly for the Indians and Ganguly. Within 24 runs, Harbhajan had run through the Aussie line-up. This truly was Harbhajan back at his brilliant best. The flight, the loop, the desire was all back as was the killer instinct.
The dismissal of Warne though had little to do with the bowler. Yuvraj, at short-leg, took a catch of freakish brilliance to send Warne back to the hut. The right-hander turned it off his legs but Yuvraj kept his eye on the ball and somehow got his hand to it. The catch stuck and Warne was gone for 31 off 49 balls. (216 for 8)
If Steve Bucknor would have had his way, Gillespie would have still been batting. The batsman walked even as Bucknor was shaking his head and saying that the batsman was safe. With all eyes on the umpire, no one noticed Gillespie taking the long walk back to the pavilion. Only after seeing that the batsman was on his way back did Bucknor raise his finger. Gillespie was caught at short leg by Yuvraj off Harbhajan for 8. (217 for 9)
Australia were dismissed for 228 when Kasprowicz was caught by Dravid off Harbhajan once again. The off-spinner claimed six wickets for 78 from 30.1 overs in the second innings to add to his five-wicket haul in the first. That gave him a match total of 11 for 224 -- the best-ever figures at Bangalore.
Australia had an overall lead of 456 runs.
India innings
India were three down before they knew it, and not one wicket had gone to a bowler. One each to the umpires -- Bowden and Bucknor; the other was a run-out.
The decision to send Virender Sehwag (0) back to the hut, leg-before the wicket off a McGrath delivery, was a shocker. The thick edge was even visible from the press box, which is at least 150 yards away from the pitch. But Bowden, somehow, did not hear nor see the edge. (1 for 1)
Sehwag threw his head up in absolute disgust at the decision, and as he walked back brushed shoulders with Bowden. It also begs the question: can the Indians trust the Australian fielders and walk on their word?
McGrath has taken over 400 wickets in Test cricket, yet he appealed for what was a clear edge. Would the Indians ever trust McGrath in this series? Would they take his word for anything?
Next to go was Chopra. This time it was the handiwork of Bucknor. It is almost like the umpires were taking turns at giving bad decisions. Gillespie was the bowler and the ball seemed destined to go down the leg-side. But not according to the umpire. Another disappointing decision, another batsman back in the pavilion. (7 for 2)
Ganguly walked in, and out as quickly. A botched up call resulted in a big mix-up in the middle and both batsmen ended up at one end. Kasprowicz lobbed the ball to Gilchrist, who broke the stumps. (12 for 3)
All those who were expecting a Kolkata fightback were now wondering whether India could last the day.
As Laxman walked in, the cricket connoisseur was aware that this was realistically India's last chance of saving the Test. Yuvraj is not very comfortable against spin and would be troubled no end by Warne.
But Laxman lasted just three runs and was trapped leg-before by Warne off his first ball of the innings. The game was over for the India. Salvaging a draw would now require a miracle.
When tea was called, India were 24 for 4 in 12.0 overs.
The authorities at the Chinnaswamy stadium, sensing the spectators would voice their displeasure at the fall of quick Indian wickets by hurling missiles to the ground, immediately put up a net screen around the stands.
Post-tea session:
There was little to fight for but pride in the final session. The target of 457 was proving to be too much; the ghastly umpiring decisions were of no help either. At 19 for 4, the best India could hope for was taking the match into the fifth day.
Of course, Harbhajan's performance in the morning had been a vital pointer towards what he is capable of doing in the rest of the series.
Yuvraj was especially impressive against Warne. He used his feet well and struck some good boundaries. For a while it looked as if Dravid and Yuvraj might put together a good partnership.
With Warne and Gillespie proving ineffective, Gilchrist turned to India's chief tormentor of the first innings, McGrath.
The move worked almost immediately. McGrath plays on the patience of batsmen. His line, unerringly, is always on or around the off-stump. Most great cricketers learn how to leave these balls alone and wait for the bad ball. With McGrath bowling, the wait is generally too long for ordinary batsmen.
Perhaps, the greatest test for a cricketer is his ability to leave balls outside the off-stump alone. Yuvraj is a very good batsman but he is yet to master that art. After playing and missing at five deliveries, he nicked the last ball of McGrath's sixth over to Gilchrist behind the wicket. Just like that, Yuvraj (27) was back in the hut. (81 for 5)
India's first innings hero Parthiv Patel didn't last too long either, trapped leg before wicket by Warne after scoring just 4. (86 for 6)
India's scoreboard made sorry reading; five batsmen had made single-digit scores. Only Dravid and Yuvraj provided resistance.
Pathan walked in. And the more you watch this lad on and off the field, the more you appreciate him. He has a great understanding of the game and an ability to read match situations very well.
Once again, as in the first innings, he put his head down and guarded his wicket like his life. Dravid, at the other end, did a good job of farming the strike.
McGrath was superbly efficient for the Australians. The medium-pacer had bowling figures of 12-8-9-2.
More from rediff