Perth, January 18:

Australia made a shaky start on Friday in its attempt to complete the second-biggest run chase in Test history, with India in a strong position to inflict a home defeat on the Australians in the third Test.

India were bowled out for 294 in its second innings, setting Australia a winning target of 413 over the final two days. Irfan Pathan (2-22) dismissed openers Chris Rogers (15) and Phil Jacques (16) as Australia slid to 65-2 by stumps on third day.

Skipper Ricky Ponting (24 not out) and Michael Hussey (5 not out) will resume on Saturday with Australia facing an enormous task to win a world record 17th successive Test. Only once in Test history has a nation chased such a large fourth innings total — the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in May 2003 when the home side chased 418 to win by three wickets.

The highest successful fourth-inning run chase in Australia was by Australia against Pakistan in Hobart in in November 1999, when the home side achieved the 369-run target for the loss of six wickets. The best ever by Australia was its 1948 team against England in Leeds when it scored 404-3 for victory.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA — 1st Innings: 330

AUSTRALIA — 1st Innings: 212

INDIA — 2nd Innings (Overnight: 52-1)

V Sehwag b Clark 43

I Pathan c Ponting b Clark 46

R Dravid c Gilchrist b Lee 3

S Tendulkar lbw b Lee 13

S Ganguly c Clarke b Johnson 0

VVS Laxman c Gilchrist b Lee 79

MS Doni c Gilchrist b Symonds 38

A Kumble c Clarke b Symonds 0

RP Singh c Gilchrist b Clark 30

I Sharma not out 4

Extras: 27 (14lb,8nb,5w)

Total: 294

FoW: 1-45, 2-79, 3-82, 4-116, 5-125,

6-160, 7-235, 8-235, 9-286

Australia bowling: Lee 20.4-4-54-3,

Johnson 10-0-58-1, Clark 19-4-61-4,

Tait 8-0-33-0, Clarke 13-2-38-0,

Symonds 10-2-36-2

AUSTRALIA — 2nd Innings

C Rogers c Dhoni b Pathan 15

P Jacques c Jaffer b Pathan 16

R Ponting not out 24

M Hussey not out 5

Extras: 5 (3lb,1nb,1w)

Total: 65/2

FoW: 1-21, 2-43

India bowling: RP Singh 5-1-24-0,

Pathan 6-1-22-2, Sharman 3-0-10-0,

Kumble 1-0-6-0