Virat Kohli clobbers a ball past Chris Rogers. Photo: Getty Images

Australia have endured a wicketless middle session in Adelaide as India's batsmen show equal amounts of fight and skill in an effort to deny the home side a one-nil series lead. 

At tea, with Indian captain Virat Kohli and opener Murali Vijay entrenched at the crease, the tourists need just 159 runs to win the first Test, or to survive a further 37 overs to save it.

Got him this time: Nathan Lyon picks up the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara. Photo: Getty Images

Australia need to prise out eight more batsmen, having strained unsuccessfully for wickets. Adding to the sense of foreboding for the home team is a second injury to captain Michael Clarke, who limped from the field and was taken straight to hospital for scans on his right hamstring.

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Brad Haddin took the captaincy reins.

Vijay gave a chance on 85, slashing a short, wide offering from Mitchell Johnson to short cover, where Mitch Marsh stuck out his left hand. It didn't stick. 

Appealing position: Nathan Lyon appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Murali Vijay. Photo: Getty Images

Nathan Lyon, under pressure to spin Australia to victory after taking five wickets in the first innings, had several appeals turned down but for the most part Vijay and Kohli picked off runs with relative ease.

Australia made two incisions in a morning session tinged by umpiring controversy.

Mitchell Johnson had Shikhar Dhawan caught behind for nine, but the replay clearly showed the ball brushing his shoulder rather than his glove as the batsman twisted and dropped his hands to evade a bouncer.

Later, Vijay was spared on 24, when he played back to Lyon and was struck on the pad. The bowler launched a strenuous appeal, which was turned down by umpire Marais Erasmus. The 'Eagle Eye' ball-tracker showed the ball crashing into Vijay's leg stump.

Lyon was a constant threat to India's batsmen, regularly crouching down with his arms in the air in imploring appeals to Erasmus.

The wicket of Pujara, perhaps the Indian batsman most capable of playing an epic innings, was a major boost for the Australians. On 21, the right-hander edged a ball that straightened a touch and Haddin snaffled the catch.

Clarke declared before play, setting India a target of 364 or at least 98 overs to bat. From 26 targets of 364 or more set in Adelaide Tests, there have been 21 wins, all by the bowling side, and five draws. 

The highest target successfully chased in Adelaide is 315, in 1901-02. 

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