A Marnus Labuschagne half-century and stubborn tail-end batting drove Australia to a 333-run lead at the end of day four in the fourth test in Melbourne on Sunday, leaving India facing a record chase to steal an unlikely victory.

The Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground promises to be an exhilarating event with only one day remaining.

By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Pace dynamo Jasprit Bumrah blitzed Australia's middle order in a thrilling three-wicket burst on Sunday to turn the fourth test on its head and give India some hope of pulling off an unlikely victory.

Australia took control of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne despite a sensational spell from Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday. The hosts were staring down the barrel at 91-6 and the lead not even past 200 before some sloppy fielding by India and remarkable determination from Australia's lower order took them to 228-9 by stumps on day four.

Destructive Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah scythed through Australia's middle order Sunday, leaving the hosts 135-6 in their second innings, a lead of 240 runs in the fourth Test. Australia remain in the stronger position at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after leading by 105 runs on the first innings,