SCG Test Day 4: Ashwin Picks Four Wickets But India in for Record Chase

Australia were 251 for six with an overall lead of 348 runs at the close on the fourth day of the fourth and final Test against India in Sydney on Friday.

Brad Haddin was not out 31 and an overnight declaration was likely. (Scorecard | Day 4 Blog)

Earlier, Australia lost the key wicket of explosive opener David Warner and held a lead of 135 runs over India at tea. The Australians finally dislodged India for 475 to lead by 97 runs on the first innings after taking 680 minutes and 162 overs to dismiss the tourists.

Virat Kohli was rewarded for some bold captaincy by getting first innings centurion Warner for just four in the second over of the innings bowled by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin got an edge off Warner to Murali Vijay at slip to the jubilation of the Indian team.

At tea, Australia were 38 for one with Chris Rogers on 21 and Shane Watson not out 13.

Watson narrowly avoided being run out shortly before tea in a mix-up but wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was unable to gather Kohli's throw with the Australian batsman out of his ground.

Yet again another dropped ball had stalled Australia's efforts to mop up the Indian first innings when bat-pad Joe Burns made a hash of a catch off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on nought.

His dropped catch was the 16th missed opportunity, which has cost the Australians 657 runs in the series.

Kumar was eventually given out by umpire's referral caught at slip by Watson off Lyon for 30 after putting on 65 with Ashwin.

Kumar tried to squeeze the ball away with his bat taking a chunk out of the ground and carrying it to slip. After many replays he was not given the benefit of the doubt.

Mitchell Starc was rewarded for a terrific play-and-miss over when he coaxed an edge off Ashwin, who was on 50, to Brad Haddin for his third wicket of the innings.

Haddin took his fourth catch and last of the innings to dismiss Umesh Yadav for four to end the Indian resistance nearing tea.

The tourists lost the wickets of Kohli and Saha in the morning session.

Kohli's hopes of building an even bigger innings evaporated in the fifth over of the day when he fell to Ryan Harris.

He clipped low to Rogers at mid-wicket and threw back his head in anguish before slowly departing with 147 off 230 balls including 20 fours.

It was the new India skipper's fourth century of the series, equalling Australian counterpart Steve Smith's achievement.

It also took Kohli's series aggregate to a record 646 at 92.28, eclipsing Rahul Dravid's 619 for India against Australia in 2003/04.

Rogers had been off the field on Thursday suffering from back spasms and returned to the game to take the knee-high catch after treatment overnight.

Saha was dismissed in the second hour, getting a top edge to an attempted hook off Josh Hazlewood and caught by Steve Smith at second slip for 35.