BANGALORE: Tailender Harbhajan Singh’s brave innings reduced India’s misery upto some extent but Australia still enjoy a 117-run lead.

India resumed their first innings at 68 for no loss on third day of the first Test here on Saturday but lost their wickets in quick succession.

Virender Sehwag (45), Gautam Gambhir (21), Sachin Tendulkar (13) and Venkatsai Laxman (nought) were the early victims before Rahul Dravid (51) and Sourav Ganguly (47) came to rescue.

Later, Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh added 37 for the seventh wicket to help India avoid from follow-on.

India had lost seven wickets for 232 runs but tail-enders Harbhajan and Zaheer Khan batting with responsibility took the score to 312 runs.

Then, Harbhajan Singh got out for 54 and when the play ended India were 313 for eight with Zaheer batting on 35.

Mitchell Johnson claimed four wickets while Shane Watson got two.