North produces a career-saving knock

The Australians must win to avoid a series defeat and Marcus North's career-best 128 ensured a strong total of 478. North must be smiling at his changed fortunes, which had begun on the previous afternoon when he made his way to 43 not out at stumps. It took him only one scoring shot on the second morning to take his tally past the 46 that was his aggregate in his previous six innings; that lean patch had led to serious questions over his place in the team.

The selectors were thrilled with North's hundred, which will ensure that he takes part in the Ashes, although he must still aim for greater consistency and fewer grand failures. When he bats as he did in Bangalore, it's hard to work out how he can produce so many low scores.

He brought up his hundred with a tight single nudged to gully, and dived into his ground at the non-striker's end with relief. He picked himself up, raised his bat and accepted the standing ovation of his team-mates, who appreciated the effort of North in becoming the side's top scorer for the third time in his 31 Test innings.

North was especially strong with his drives through cover and straight down the ground, which were generally timed to perfection. Importantly, he batted with control, choosing carefully which deliveries to leave and waiting for opportunities to score, and he even lashed out with a slog-swept six off Pragyan Ojha.

A similar shot off Harbhajan Singh ended North's stay, but by then the Australians were looking for quick runs to move the game forward.