2nd Test: Hayden puts Aus in command

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Sydney, January 5:: Matthew Hayden continued to be a thorn in India's flesh as the towering opener's 29th century laid the platform for Australia to push for a record-equalling 16th Test win in the second cricket match on Saturday.

Hayden (123) once again feasted on the visitors' attack as he stitched a 160-run stand with Mike Hussey (87 not out) after the hosts looked wobbly losing two quick wickets just before lunch on the penultimate day which was extended because of rain interruptions.

Hussey and Andrew Symonds (14) were at the crease when play was called off due to bad light with Australia on 282 for four in their second innings, having taken a lead of 213 runs to more or less ensure that they did not lose the match.

Australia would now be keen to set India a competitive target for the visitors on a deteriorating fifth day SGC track, hoping to carve out their 16th Test win on the trot that would put them in the same bracket with the side that Steve Waugh led.

With the hosts batting themselves to a comfortable position, an Indian defeat or a draw are the two likely results possible in what promises to be an engrossing fifth day's play.

A win in the second of the four-match Test series would also allow the hosts to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Hussey, however, has reasons to feel grateful to umpire Mark Benson, who ruled him not out even after he had edged RP Singh to the wicketkeeper, still five runs away from his fifty.

Anil Kumble injected some life into the match by removing Hayden and Michael Clarke (0) with successive balls and rapping Andrew Symonds on his pads with the hat-trick delivery.

Symonds, however, had put a long stride forward and umpire Steve Bucknor turned down the vociferous appeal.

Earlier after Australia got off to a decent start, Kumble had taken up the cudgel on himself to earn the first breakthrough, when Phil Jaques (42) swept into the hands of Yuvraj Singh at deep square leg.

Five runs later, Harbhajan Singh proved Ricky Ponting was indeed his bunny when he had the rival skipper caught at silly point by VVS Laxman, which triggered a wild celebration by the spinner.

Harbhajan, in the eye of a storm for allegedly abusing Symonds on Friday, could not conceal his joy and ran towards the pavilion with his right hand raised in triumph.