Australia's tail holds up India's spinners

Australia's tail held up India on yet another dominant day for the home team in the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Friday.

Opting to bat after skipper Michael Clarke pulled out due to a back injury, Australia ended the opening day of the final Test at 231 for eight at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in New Delhi.

Australia lost opener David Warner early. But then built a solid partnership through Ed Cowan and Phil Hughes who put together 67 runs for the second wicket.

Thereafter Australia suffered yet another middle-order collapse. It slipped from 106 for two to 136 for seven.

It then required Steve Smith (46) to revive the innings in company with Peter Siddle (47 batting) to turn things around. The duo added 53 runs for the eighth wicket.

Then Siddle held India at bay for a further 16.4 overs till stumps in the company of James Pattinson to add a further 42 runs for the ninth wicket.

For India, Ravichandran Ashwin (4-40), Ishant Sharma (2-35) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-34) were the key wicket-takers.