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Mike Hussey silenced his critics with a fighting half-century as Australia ended Day 3 in the first Test against India on 179-8 in their second innings, a lead of 230 runs, on Wednesday.

Hussey shared an important partnership with Ricky Ponting, who scored a vital 60, to revive the hosts from a precarious position.

At stumps, Hussey was unbeaten on 79 off 134 deliveries with James Pattinson, on 3.

Australia were 27-4 at one stage before the duo stitched a 115-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, the Australian pacers wrapped the Indian innings quickly in the morning to give them a 51-run lead.

None of the Indian batsmen got going in the morning session and the innings folded for the addition of just 68 runs.

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Umesh Yadav strikes in his comeback spell as he removes Peter Siddle who played a crucial hand in the first innings.

A fiery delivery -- too good for Siddle as he could do nothing much but to knick it to MS Dhoni behind the stumps.

Siddle was back in the hut for four as Australia were 164-7 after 52 overs.

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Zaheer Khan strikes in his first over of his second spell as he removes well-set Ricky Ponting for 60.

The ball is reversing now as he angles the ball across the right-hander swinging it out as Ponting edges it to Sehwag in the gully region.

He then had Brad Haddin edging one to VVS Laxman to make it two in two overs for Zaheer.

India are back in the Test match!!!

Australia were 149-6 after 43 over and are 200 runs ahead. 

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The momentum has shifted back in Australia's favour as Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey are taking it back to Indians after early strike looked to have raised the hopes of the visitors.

Ponting who hit form in the first innings with a brilliant 62 stroked his second half-century of the Test.

And he got good supprt from Mike Hussey who was unlucky in the first innings to be given out as the latter reached his half century too to lead Australia's fightback.

At the end of 38 overs, Australia were 134-4. Ponting is on 57, while Hussey is on 55 as Aussies lead by 185 runs.

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Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey weathered the early storm to take Australia to 81-4 at tea -- with an overall lead of 132.

Hussey came in after Michael Clarke was cleaned up by Ishant Sharma and so far have put on a 54 runs stand for fifth wicket to take Australia to safety.

Earlier Umesh Yadav rocked Australian innings with three quick wickets that of David Warner, Ed Cowan and Shaun Marsh to leave the hosts reeling.

But then the duo of Ponting and Hussey were positive from the outset and played attacking cricket to open up the field for the team. 

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Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey seem to have steadied the ship after Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma left the Aussies reeling at 27-4.

Both have been positive, played their shots to take Australia to to 65-4 -- with an overall lead of 116.

Hussey has been the agrresive of the two taking 12 runs off Ishant Sharma as Australia have socred close to six runs per over now.

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Wickets are tumbling at the MCG as skipper Michael Clarke is now on his way back to the pavillion after he like his predecessors drags one back onto the stumps.

Clarke goes on to the backfoot to defend the ball but ends up disturbing the timber.

Australians are now reeling at 27-4. The hosts will now have to look to the Ponting and Hussey to revive their hopes as India are right back in the contest

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Umesh Yadav has rocked Australia early with three wickets -- the latest being Shaun Marsh who was castled by the speedster for three.

Umesh bowls one touch wider outside off stump as Marsh goes for a drive, but like Warner, ends up dragging it back on to his stumps.

Game on now!!!

Australia 26-3 after 12 overs.

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Umesh Yadav provides the early breakthrough for India as he castles dangerous David Warner for five.

Warner rooted to his crease went hard at the ball and ended up chopping it back on to the stumps.

Couple of balls later, he had the other opener Ed Cowan walking back after he shouldered a straightish delivery.

Australia were 16-2 after 7.4 overs and lead by 67 runs.

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Peter Siddle has been the pick of the bowlers for Australia as he finally had R Ashwin nicking one to Bradd Haddin to end India's first innings at 282.

It means that Australia have managed to get a crucial 51-runs lead as the teams head for lunch on Day III.

Earlier, Ben Hilfenhaus's five-for broke India's back as the visitors could manage 68 runs in the day losing seven wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar remained the top-scorer for India with 73 runs, alongwith Rahul Dravid who scored a crucial 68.

Besides Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle picked up 3-63, while Pattinson picked up 2-55. 

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Ben Hilfenhaus has been superb this mornig as he now claims the his fifth wicket of the innings -- removing Ishant Sharma for 11.

Ishant had been brilliant until he slashed hard at a delivery that was wide of off-stump and was gobbled up by Haddin behind the stumps.

Australians are now back in the contest with India trailing by another 75 runs. India were 258-8 with R Ashwin and Zaheer Khan in the middle.

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Ben Hilfenhaus has been the pick of the bowlers for Australia on Day 3 as he removes Indian skipper.

Hilfenhaus who had picked up Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli earlier in the day, now had Dhoni playing a flase stroke to give a simple catch to Mike Hussey in gully.

India has lost four wickets for just 28 runs on Day III. India were 245-7 after 82 overs.

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It's been a good morning session for Australia as they now send Virat Kohli back to the pavillion for 11.

Australia have struck thrice now removing Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and now Kohli as they have clawed their way back into the Test match.

Kohli just like Laxman poked at a delivery that just did enough to take the outside edge and was safely pouched by Haddin.

India were 238-6 after 79.2 overs.

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It's not a happy morning for India and have to say Australia have been on the mark right from ball one.

After removing Dravid off the second ball off the day, Peter Siddle now removes VVS Laxman in the fourth over of the day -- his first for just two.

A fuller length delivery from Siddle finds the edge of VVS's bat and was neatly taken by Bradd Haddin behing the stumps.

India have lost half their side for 221. Ishant Sharma is on five, along with Virat Kohli who is yet to open his account.

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Welcome to Day III coverage of the first Test in Melbourne.

It was a good day for India on  Day II, where they scored 214-3 and it will be an interesting first session for India.

And just as we speak, Helfenhaus castles Dravid to give the Australia the perfect start.

A brilliant delivery goes through the defences of Dravid to send him back off the second ball of the day.

India 214-4 as Laxman walks in.