Australia launched its test series campaign in India with a thumping 217-run victory in the opening match yesterday.
Australia, seeking its first series win in India for 35 years, dismissed defiant Indian tailenders Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh to bowl out the home side for 239 in its second innings.
The tourists scored 474 and 228 in their two innings.
India crashed out for 246 in its first innings, but Australia decided against enforcing a follow on -- to avoid batting last on a crumbling Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch.
The 89-run ninth-wicket partnership between Pathan (55) and Singh (42) held back the Aussie charge until lunch, and helped India avoid recording its biggest defeat in terms of runs in 72 years of test cricket. That dubious record continues to be a 329-run loss to South Africa at Calcutta in 1996.
Pathan and Singh put on India's best ninth-wicket stand against Australia -- bettering the 81 runs scored by Sachin Tendulkar and Kiran More at Perth in 1991-92.
Australian captain Adam Gilchrist, leading in the absence of injured skipper Ricky Ponting, said it was thrilling to go one up in the first test, but warned his players against complacency.
"It's a convincing win, but the Indians have bounced back before," said Gilchrist, referring to the 2001 series when India returned from a big defeat in the series opener to take the series 2-1.
Gilchrist -- whose four-test captaincy record stands at three victories and one defeat -- said winning the toss played a crucial role.
"In these circumstances, you have to do well whatever you do first," he said. "We were aggressive when it was required, and we can still attack when needed."
Sri Lanka versus Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka cricket captain Marvan Atapattu wants to finish off Zimbabwe in "good fashion" Monday when the two teams meet in a limited-overs international of triangular series.
Another victory over a youthful Zimbabwe would put Sri Lanka into the final against host Pakistan, which already qualified after securing 16 points from three victories -- two against Zimbabwe and one against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has seven points from two matches.
Sri Lanka bundled out Zimbabwe for a paltry 104 at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday and then raced to the target in only 18.1 overs for the loss of three wickets.
Zimbabwe has just one point from three games -- a bonus point gained in its loss to Pakistan in Peshawar last week.
The Zimbabwe cricket team undergoing a massive rebuilding process since leading white players revolted against their cricket board over selection policy in April. The African nation has struggled in international cricket since then, losing all 13 limited-overs internationals it played.
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