Australia dominate second day

Adelaide, Jan 25 (IBNS) India made another poor start losing stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid early after double centuries from captain Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting took Australia on top after the second day's play on the fourth and the final cricket Test at the Adelaide Oval here Wednesday.

Australia declared their first innings at 604 for seven, shortly after the tea break after Ponting scored 221 and Clarke made 210. The duo were involved in a 386-run stand for the fourth wicket that helped Australia reach the massive total.

Their partnership is the fourth-highest by an Australian pair for any wicket in Tests.

India were 61 for two in the second innings at stumps, trailing Australia by 543 runs, with Gautam Gambhir batting on 30 and Sachin Tendulkar on 12. India need another 343 to make Australia bat again.

Virender Sehwag (18) and Rahul Dravid (1) were dismissed in successive overs.

Earlier in the day, resuming at overnight 335 for three, Australia quickly reached to 3-469 at lunch. Australia added another 100 runs in the second session by lost four wickets.

Clarke got his double century before the break while Ponting was just two short of the landmark. Clarke reached his double-century with a push to mid-wicket for two and threw his arms to the heavens, kissing his helmet and hugged Ponting.

Clarke, however, failed to add to his lunch score as he was bowled bu Umesh Yadav in the third ball after the lunch break. Clarke struck 26 fours and one six from 274 deliveries.

The 37-year-old Ponting, whose position in the team was under threat at the start of the series, also reached his century four after the lunch break. Paceman Ishant Sharma missed a return catch off Ponting who was on 186.

Zaheer Khan finally dismissed Ponting, who went for a pull and Sachin Tendulkar took a good catch in the deep.

Ponting and Clarke broke several records en route to their triple century stand.

Clarke and Ponting surpassed the partnership record set earlier this month by Clarke and Mike Hussey of 334 for any wicket for Australia against India.

Ponting and Clarke overtook the partnership record for any wicket at Adelaide Oval of 341 by South Africa's Eddie Barlow and Graeme Pollock in 1963-64.

The pair fell two runs shy of the Australian fourth-wicket record of 388 set by Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford against England in 1934 at Headingley.