Australia scores 98 for 3 on day one, Ashwin picks two wickets

Adelaide, Jan 24: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice in the first session to reduce Australia to 98 for three at lunch on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test at Adelaide on today.

Ashwin accounted for Shaun Marsh (3) and Ed Cowan (30) in two separate spells, while pace spearhead Zaheer Khan dealt the first blow, dismissing David Warner (8) early to give India the edge in the first session.

Veteran Ricky Ponting though was in brilliant touch and has so far hammered seven fours in his 43 off 83 balls.

Skipper Michael Clarke was giving him company on 8.

The hosts, 3-0 up in the series, were stuttering at 31 for two by the 10th over at one stage before Cowan and Ponting redeemed the situation somewhat with a 53-run stand.

Zaheer, as is his wont, gave India the first breakthrough after Australia chose to bat in hot, batter-friendly conditions at the Adelaide Oval here.

Warner (8) played back to a Zaheer delivery and was struck plumb in front of the stumps in the seventh over of the innings.

Off-spinner Ashwin, introduced into the attack as early as in the fourth over, sent down a delivery which went through the arm and clipped the top of Marsh’s off-stump.

However, once these two bowlers were through their first spells, Indians leaked runs all around with Umesh Yadav conceding as many as 41 runs from his five overs.

PTI