Mishra shines as India take command

Haryana leg-spinner Amit Mishra celebrated his Test debut with a five-wicket haul as India tighten the noose around Australia`s neck on day three of the second cricket match at Mohali today. Mishra emerged as the wrecker-in-chief as India shot out Australia for 268, carving out a 201-run first innings lead. Despite having the Aussies at his mercy, stand-in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni refused to enforce follow-on, deciding instead to set them a target and unleash the two-pronged spin attack on a wearing track. India added exactly 100 runs without any loss in the final session to stretch their overall lead to 301 and openers Virender Sehwag (53) and Gautam Gambhir (46) will return tomorrow to further swell the tally and take the match away from Australia. Earlier, resuming at overnight score of 102 for four, Australia rode both luck and pluck before eventually folding for 268 -- still 201 runs behind India`s first innings total of 469. Gasping at 167 for seven at one stage, even the 200-mark looked like a distant dream for Australia before the visitors were shored up by the record-equalling 73 run-stand for the eighth wicket between a dour Watson a dogged Brett Lee (35).