Advantage India in final Test

India gained a vital 86-run first innings lead in the fourth and final cricket Test against Australia at Nagpur today. Responding to India`s first innings total of 441, the Australians squandered the advantange of a solid start to lose wickets at periodic intervals after the lunch break and fold up for 355 just a few minutes before stumps on the third day. Opener Simon Katich (102) scored his third century since returning to the National team and his fifth overall to lay the foundation for his team alongwith Michael Hussey (90) but their dismissals in quick succession opened up the floodgates. The visitors, who were placed at a comfortable 255 for three at one stage, slipped to a precarious 266 for six before recovering to some extent mainly due to the efforts of Brad Haddin (28) and Cameron White (46). India were yet to open their account in the second innings with Virender Sehwag safely negotiating Mitchell Johnson`s only over before close of play. The tourists could add just 166 runs to their overnight tally, an uncharacteristically slow run rate of less than 2.5 runs from the champion team which is desperate to win the Test and level the series 1-1.