MADRAS, India, March 20 (AFP) - Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath grabbed two quick wickets on the third morning to scare India in the third and decisive Test here on Tuesday.

India, resuming at 211-1, slipped to 237-3 before Sachin Tendulkar and captain Sourav Ganguly carried the hosts to 266-3 by lunch on the third day.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 27 and Ganguly was on 14, the pair taking 92 minutes to add 29 runs for the fourth wicket.

India still need another 126 with seven wickets in hand to overtake Australia's first innings total of 391.

McGrath trapped Shiv Das leg-before with the first ball of the day and then dismissed the other overnight batsman, Venkatsai Laxman in his fourth over.

Das, unbeaten on 84, shuffled across a straight ball that beat the bat and thudded into the pads.

Laxman, who hit India's record score of 281 in the second Test at Calcutta, added six runs to his overnight score of 59 when he edged a rising ball to Mark Waugh at second slip.

The sudden dismissal of Das and Laxman, who put on 88 for the second wicket on Monday evening, brought India's two most experienced batsmen to the crease earlier than they may have hoped for.

Tendulkar began with a superb cover drive for four off Jason Gillespie, who conceded 12 runs in the over that included a wayward delivery that beat wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist for four byes.

Tendulkar added three more boundaries, while Ganguly had only one four to his credit.

Australian captain Steve Waugh kept his star bowler Shane Warne out of the firing line after the leg-spinner was hit for 73 runs in 20 overs on Monday.