NAGPUR, Oct 27: Glenn McGrath destroyed India's top order in his 100th Test match here on Wednesday to bring world champions Australia closer to their first series win on Indian soil in 35 years.

The lanky paceman put on a brilliant exhibition of swing bowling as India, replying to Australia's first innings score of 398, stumbled to 146-5 by close of the second day's play in the third Test here.

McGrath, who conceded just 18 runs in 20 overs, removed the dangerous Virender Sehwag and stand-in captain Rahul Dravid to leave India trailing by 252 runs with five wickets in hand.

The hosts, 103-5 at one stage, were revived partially by an unbroken stand of 43 for the sixth wicket between Mohammad Kaif (47) and Parthiv Patel (16).

Australia, who lead 1-0 in the four-match series, have three days to conjure a victory here and seal their first series success in India since Bill Lawry's tourists won 3-1 way back in 1969-70.

India floundered after star batsman Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for eight on his return to international cricket and the rest of the batting caved in tamely on a firm wicket which aided bounce and turn.

Tendulkar, who was sidelined since Aug 1 with a tennis elbow injury, lasted just 36 deliveries in which he took six singles and a two before being trapped plumb in front of the wicket by Jason Gillespie.

Some 15,000 home fans at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) ground, who had loudly welcomed Tendulkar to the crease, were stunned into silence when Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar confirmed an easy verdict.

The Australians struck at regular intervals to send the hosts reeling.

Virender Sehwag, fresh from his 155 in the drawn second Test at Chennai, smashed 16 runs in Gillespie's first over before being caught behind off McGrath for 22.

Opening partner Aakash Chopra groped for 50 minutes to make nine when he edged Gillespie to first slip where Shane Warne took a low catch.

Warne, who came on at 75-3, struck with his second delivery as Vangipurappu Laxman miscued a lazy cut shot to Michael Clarke at point after making 13.

Dravid, leading India in the absence of the injured Saurav Ganguly, defended dourly for three hours to make 21 when McGrath found the edge with a superb outswinger to give Warne another catch in the slips.

Earlier, Australia added 36 runs to their overnight score of 362-7 before they were all out 50 minutes after the start.

Clarke, resuming at 73, failed by nine runs to score his second century in the series when he was last man out for 91.

Clarke, who made a century on debut in the first Test at Bangalore, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Patel off left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan.

Zaheer picked up two of the last three wickets to finish with four for 95.

Murali Kartik, who replaced the unwell Harbhajan Singh, took 3-57 and Anil Kumble chipped in with 2-99.

Australia won the first Test in Bangalore by 217 runs.

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