Clarke hits triple ton, Australia declares at 659-4 on day 3

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Skipper Michael Clarke became the sixth Australian to make a triple century in Tests as the hosts declared their first innings at 659 for four on third day of the second cricket Test here on Thursday.

Clarke was unbeaten on 329 and his partner Michael Hussey on 150 when Australia declared their first innings after taking an overall lead of 468 runs over India.

The two experienced batsmen put on 334 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket partnership which broke the back of Indian team and was over only when the innings was declared an hour after lunch.

Clarke's score is the fourth highest score by an Australian in Test cricket, behind Matthew Hayden (380), Sir Donald Bradman (334) and Mark Taylor (334).

This was the 25th instance of a triple century in Test cricket. Only Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the four batsmen who have hit triple century twice in Test cricket.

For records sake, this is after 95 Tests that an Australian has thrashed a triple century. Matthew Hayden was the last one to do so -- a total of 380 against Zimbabwe at WACA, Perth in 2003.

Clarke, unbeaten on 293 at lunch, reached his all-important landmark on resumption when he clipped Ishant Sharma to midwicket boundary.

In all, Clarke batted for 617 minutes and hit 39 fours and a six from 468 balls. Hussey batted for 312 minutes and 253 balls and smashed 16 fours and a six. The innings was declared as soon as Hussey reached the 150-run mark.

Scoreboard on the third day of the second Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Thursday.

India (Ist Innings) 191

Australia (Ist Innings): David Warner c Tendulkar b Zaheer 8 Ed Cowan lbw b Zaheer 16
Shaun Marsh c Laxman b Zaheer 0 Ricky Ponting c Tendulkar b Ishant Sharma 134 Michael Clarke batting 329 Michael Hussey batting 150

Extras (B-2, LB-13, W-4, NB-3) 22; Total (for 4 wkts decl in 163 overs) 659
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-37, 4-325

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 31-4-122-3, Umesh Yadav 24-2-123-0, Ishant Sharma 33-2-144-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 44-5-157-0, Virender Sehwag 23-1-75-0, Virat Kohli 8-0-23-0.