As Australia posted their highest ever total at M.Chinnaswamy stadium, their earlier best being 474 in 2004, the Indian spinners toiled for about 55 overs since morning today to claim five wickets, all in post-lunch session.
Ohja and Harbhajan claimed two wickets apiece, while Cheteshwar Pujara accounted for a run out. Harbhajan was the pick of the bowlers claiming four for 148 and Ohja took three for 120.
Zaheer Khan and Suresh Raina claimed a wicket each. During the post lunch session, Marcus North who scored a fine century was more aggressive and seen coming out of the crease to play his shots. North adjusted to the line and guiding the ball for runs, especially of Harbhajan, while Tim Paine was moving towards his right to negotiate Pragyan Ohja, who looked dangerous at times putting the batsmen in two minds with his quicker deliveries.
These duo were coasting towards denying the Indian bowlers any reprieve and steadily achieving their plans to post a healthy total to square the series and also to give their Captain Ricky Ponting a test win after Sydney Test in 2008.
However, the Indian spinners were also equal to the task and looking to be breaking the ice and succeeded but by the time the pair had already crossed the 400 mark and North had already claimed a deserving century.
After Paine, who was lucky to have been recalled after being given out of a no-ball from S Sreesanth, was stumped by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ohja, the latter had scalped the wicket of Mitchell Johnson (O) adjudged leg before the wicket.
Paine made 59 runs (133b, 8 X 4) and his stand with North yielded 149 runs for the sixth wicket in 181 minutes of 255 balls.
Meanwhile, North and Nathan Hauritz put their heads down applying caution in their approach, left handed North made his fifth century, all in away matches, which goes to prove his mettle as solid batsmen known his job in different conditions.
North, who had occupied the crease for 335 minutes scored his career best 128 in 335 minutes and had hit 17 fours and a six. Mitchell Johnson failed to open his account, Hauritz (17, 2 X 4) and debutant Peter George made two. Fast bowler, Ben Hilfenhaus remained not out on 16 (2 X 4, 1 X 6).