Australia will set an Adelaide Oval record if they manage to win the first Test against India, having slipped to 1-28 after being set an imposing target of 323 on day four.
Ravichandran Ashwin struck with the final ball of Sunday's post-lunch session when Aaron Finch was caught at bat-pad for 11, although replays suggested the opener might have been reprieved if he had reviewed.
Finch successfully reviewed an lbw verdict on zero in the opening over; ball- tracking replays would have upheld that on-field decision but footage showed Ishant Sharma overstepped and it was a no-ball.
The tourists resumed their second innings at 3-151 on Sunday and enjoyed a productive opening session, underlined by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's 87-run stand.
Virat Kohli's team were rolled for 307 after losing 7-73 either side of lunch, notably adding a mere 25 runs for their final five wickets.
Nathan Lyon bowled well and grabbed 6-122. But India's prospects of recording their first Test win in Australia since 2008, and striking an almighty blow as they hunt a maiden Test series win in Australia, remain strong.
The highest-successful run chase in a Test at the venue is Australia's 6-315, achieved in 1902 against England, while no side has chased down more than 236 since the West Indies in 1982.
Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick, speaking before day four started, admitted the pitch was one "where you're never in".
"It's going to be tough, more than 250, I feel we'd be looking for a couple of heroes," Hick conceded to SEN radio.
The target would have been even more immense if not for Lyon, who claimed the prized scalps of Kohli and Pujara and was later on a hat-trick when he removed Rahane and Mohammed Shami.
But the offspinner's haul is unlikely to be a source of confidence for Australia's inexperienced batsmen, especially the left-handers. Lyon had been zeroing in on the same rough that counterpart Ashwin will delight in.
Pujara backed up his first-innings ton with a knock of 71, remarkably spending
11 hours batting in the low-scoring contest.
AAP.
