SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — India were battling to avoid defeat against Australia after losing two wickets before the close of play Sunday, in a third Test marred by allegations of racist abuse from the Sydney crowd.

The hosts declared their second innings at tea on day four at 312 for six, leaving India needing a mammoth 407 to win, and they reached 98-2 at stumps — still needing a further 309 runs with the four-match series locked at 1-1.

No team has ever bettered 288 to clinch victory in the fourth innings at Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground, with Australia achieving that mark against South Africa in 2006.

India’s record run chase started steadily before losing openers Shubman Gill for 31 and Rohit Sharma for 52, leaving their hopes resting on Cheteshwar Pujara, who was nine not out, and Captain Ajinkya Rahane, unbeaten on four.

Sharma and Gill lived dangerously against some early torrid bowling by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins but they settled in during a 71-run stand to begin playing their shots, with the graceful Sharma bringing up an 11th Test 50 before being caught at fine leg hooking a Cummins short ball.

Gill, who has cemented his place in the side after making a debut this series, again looked at home until he nicked a Hazlewood delivery to Tim Paine behind the stumps on 31.

“The batsmen will walk in tomorrow believing they can do it,” said veteran Ravi Ashwin. “That belief is very important when you step onto the pitch.

“As a team, we are very hopeful we can put together a good performance,” he added.

Australia’s declaration came after Cameron Green fell on the stroke of tea for an entertaining 84, his maiden Test half-century, with Captain Tim Paine unbeaten on 39.

Steve Smith made 81 and Marnus Labuschagne 73, with Ashwin and Navdeep Saini grabbing two wickets each.

Just before the break there was a near 10-minute interruption to play that saw six fans removed after Mohammed Siraj, fielding on the boundary, complained to the umpire.

It was not clear what was said, but the incident followed India lodging a complaint on Saturday following allegations of racist abuse towards the team by sections of the crowd.

The International Cricket Council launched an investigation with Cricket Australia, apologising to India and vowing anyone at fault faced “lengthy bans, further sanctions and referral to NSW [New South Wales] Police”.

“We’ve seen it happen in different parts of the world and I’m really sad to see it happen in Australia,” said Australia Coach Justin Langer.

“I think our series so far has been played in such great spirits…it’s a shame to see it getting marred by incidents like we’re hearing about today and last night.”

Green sixes

Australia had resumed the day on 103 for two after India were bowled out for 244 in the first innings in reply to Australia’s 338, with Smith on 29 and Labuschagne 47.

Labuschagne survived an appalling dropped catch by Hanuma Vihari on the day’s second ball, which left bowler Jasprit Bumrah clutching his face in disbelief.

It was a setback for a side without the spin of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after he was hit on the left thumb batting on Saturday.

He didn’t take to the field, Indian media saying it was dislocated and he would only bat again “if required”, with the injury likely to rule him out of the fourth Test next week.

Rishabh Pant also took a blow to his elbow while batting and was another no-show, with Wriddhiman Saha keeping wicket.

However, Pant was expected to bat in the run chase.

Labuschagne brought up back-to-back 50s and looked comfortable until Saini snapped his 103-run partnership with Smith.

Matthew Wade quickly went for four, and it proved slow going for Smith.

But following his first-innings 131 he kept his focus to notch another half-century, ably accompanied by Green, until trapped lbw by his nemesis Ashwin.

Green, 21, again showed composure to help solidify his place in the team, bringing up his 50 with a boundary then smacking three huge sixes before being caught off Bumrah as he swung the bat again.

SCOREBOARD

Australia first innings 338 (S Smith 131, M

Labuschagne 91, W Pucovski 62; R Jadeja 4-62)

India first innings 244 (S Gill 50, C Pujara 50; P Cummins 4-29)

Australia second innings (overnight 103 for two)

D Warner lbw b Ashwin 13

W Pucovski c sub (Saha) b Siraj 10

M Labuschagne c sub (Saha) b Saini 73

S Smith lbw b Ashwin 81

M Wade c sub (Saha) b Saini 4

C Green c sub (Saha) b Bumrah 84

T Paine not out 39

Extras (b1, lb4, nb3) 8

Total (six wickets dec, 87 overs) 312

Did not bat: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc,

Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Pucovski), 2-35

(Warner), 3-138 (Labuschagne), 4-148

(Wade), 5-208 (Smith), 6-312 (Green)

Bowling: Bumrah 21-4-68-1, Siraj 25-5-90-1

(1nb), Saini 16-2-54-2 (2nb), Ashwin 25-1-95-2

India second innings

R Sharma c Starc b Cummins 52

S Gill c Paine b Hazlewood 31

C Pujara not out 9

A Rahane not out 4

Extras (lb1, nb1) 2

Total (two wickets, 34 overs) 98

To bat: Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant,

Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Jasprit

Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini

Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Shubman), 2-92 (Sharma)

Bowling: Starc 6-0-27-0, Hazlewood 8-3-11-

1, Cummins 9-1-25-1 (1nb), Lyon 9-3-22-0,

Green 2-0-12-0

Toss: Australia

Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS), Bruce Oxenford

(AUS)

TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS)