Laxman cashes in as draw looms

Sachin Tendulkar was snaffled three runs short of a half-century, but useful partnerships worth 40 runs with Gautam Gambhir (36) and 52 with Laxman stifled Australian hopes of a dramatic victory.

At tea on the fifth day, India had reached 193 for five, a lead to 229.

Laxman was batting on 55 and Sourav Ganguly on 22, with India in sight of maintaining their 1-0 lead for the final Test of the four-game series.

Just when he was within grasp of what would have been his third half-century of the series, Tendulkar uncharacteristically guided a Cameron White delivery straight to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

It was the second time leg-spinner White, the only specialist spinner in the Australia side, had dismissed Tendulkar in the series.

Meanwhile, Laxman, who hit an unbeaten double century in the first innings, continued where he left off.

He hit Michael Clarke for consecutive boundaries as he moved within two runs of a half-century and brought up the mark with a cover-driven boundary off the part-time left-arm spinner.

Ganguly exuded defiance as he danced down the track to cart Clarke over long-on for a six, helping steer India to a position of safety.

In the morning, Brett Lee had snared his second wicket of the innings, sending back Rahul Dravid (11) in the first hour of play.