Australia regains control of first India test

Tenacious opener Simon Katich batted for more than three hours for his 34 and put on 50 for the third wicket with first-innings centurion Michael Hussey (31) after Australia lost two quick wickets.

All-rounder Shane Watson (32) and Brad Haddin (28) enjoyed an invaluable 65-run unbroken stand as Australia built on a handy, 70-run, first innings lead on a pitch that offered variable bounce.

India had clawed their way back into the match in the morning after Zaheer Khan's fighting 57 put the visitors in a race against time.

Resuming at 313 for eight, India finished at 360, frustrating the visitors until half an hour before lunch.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took two wickets each to put Australia under tremendous pressure before Watson and Haddin came to the rescue.