India, resumed at 114 for 2 this morning, lost overnight batsman Gautam Gambhir (83) but scored 129 runs off 27 overs during the two-hour session.

Gambhir was sedate without being overtly productive though he did hit James Pattinson emphatically through covers to move into the 80s.

The introduction of Siddle from the Paddington End brought about Gambhir's downfall. The southpaw over-reached in trying to negotiate a delivery on the stumps and ended up steering a catch to deep point.

Gambhir lasted for 217 minutes, hitting 11 boundaries in his 142-ball knock, during his first knock of note in this tour.

Australia, inspired by captain Michael Clarke, crushed India by an innings and 68 runs in the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Having made eight from 42 balls and survived a scare to help India to 114 for two overnight, Sachin Tendulkar scored 16 off the first 11 deliveries and brought up his 65th Test half-century with two runs to fine leg.

Most eyes in the sparse crowd on a windy and overcast morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground, however, were on Test cricket's most prolific batsman and his latest attempt to end his 10-month quest for a century of centuries.

But all their hopes were dashed as Tendulkar fell agonizingly short of a century yet again.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke, whose record 329 not out set the hosts on their way to their huge total, took the vital wicket of Sachin Tendulkar with his occasional spin-bowling.

Tendulkar resumed on 70 after lunch had added 10 runs to his tally when he got an edge to a Clarke delivery which deflected off the gloves of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin into the hands of Mike Hussey.

Australia took the new ball and Ben Hilfenhaus wrought havoc with it, bowling VVS Laxman for 66 with a peach of a ball that just touched the off stump with his first delivery after a rest.

On his next over, the big pacemen had Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught and bowled for two after a review of the TV pictures showed the Indian skipper had chipped the ball back to him.

James Pattinson got his first wicket of the innings on the next over, trapping Virat Kohli plumb leg before wicket for nine and leaving India languishing on 286 for seven.

Kohli continued to disappoint with the bat. The youngster has managed just 43 runs from four innings at an average of 10.75, with a highest of 23, in the series so far.

Some spirited batting from the tailenders extended the contest beyond the tea break before spinner Ravi Ashwin was caught for 62, a fifth wicket for Ben Hilfenhaus, to end the innings at 400 all out.

It was the sixth successive overseas Test defeat for India after their 4-0 drubbing in England last year and put paid to their hopes of a first series triumph in Australia.