Damien Martyn hit his second successive century of the series as Australia fought back from a mini collapse in the morning session to end the opening day of the third Test against India on 362 for 7.
The 33-year-old middle order batsman, who scored 104 in the second innings of the second Test in Chennai, held center stage at the Vidharba Cricket Association stadium on Tuesday, compiling a superb 114, after the Australians lost the wickets of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Simon Katich with only 86 runs on the board.
To their credit, the Indians claimed three quick wickets through Murali Karthik in the final session of the day to check the Aussie juggernaut.
At close, Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 73, with Jason Gillespie on 4.
The day's proceedings underlined two things: one, a live track is an improbability in India; two, Parthiv Patel has to go back to school, a wicketkeeping one!
Sourav Ganguly, out of the match following a thigh strain, must have stopped pondering about the wicket and started worrying about his wicketkeeper instead.
The 20-year-old's inept catching again cost India dear as Australia ended the day well-placed.
Morning session (103 runs, 3 wickets, 25 overs)
India's ecstasy of Sachin Tendulkar returning to the side was diluted in the agony of Sourav Ganguly being forced to sit out.
The first surprise of the morning came when Rahul Dravid walked in for the toss along with Australia captain Adam Gilchrist. The change in captaincy didn't alter India's luck with the spin of the coin, as Gilchrist called correct and elected to bat.
India made three changes to side that played in the second Test in Chennai. Yuvraj Singh was replaced by Delhi's Akash Chopra, while Harbhajan Singh and Sourav Ganguly were ruled out due to injury.
India physiotherapist Andrew Leipus informed that Harbhajan was suffering from gastroenteritis while Ganguly has a strain in the upper thigh, an injury he had been carrying since the first Test in Bangalore.
The promise of an Australia-like pitch evaporated quickly as the Indian pacemen were unable to create any problems for Australia openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden. Ajit Agarkar, who got Langer out six times previously in Test cricket, had the left-hander tucking the ball at the pads occasionally but was unable to penetrate through his defences.
Langer was watchful as he played out the first over of the day by Agarkar, but was quickly into the hunt after a punch off the back foot for four. It marked the beginning of an eventful innings by him. The left-hander scored faster than his usually dominating partner and sprinkled some exquisite drives between many unsuccessful appeals by the Indian bowlers.
Hayden did not produce his beefy blows, hitting only two boundaries in his 78-minute stay at the wicket. He was out edging the ball to wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel off the bowling of Zaheer Khan.
Zaheer looked sharper in his second spell, from the pavilion end, and beat the bat consistently. The left-armer teased Hayden with a couple of in-dippers before plucking his wicket for 23, in the 17th over.
Hayden's 23, including two fours, came off 39 balls.
Hayden and Langer were involved in a 67-run opening stand, the third time in the series the two had put on a half-century partnership.
Thereafter Dravid packed the slip cordon for Zaheer and the bowler responded beautifully, claiming the wicket of Langer four overs and 12 runs later. Langer flashed outside off stump for a straightforward catch to Dravid at first slip.
Langer was out for 44, inclusive of eight fours, off 73 balls.
Anil Kumble then snapped the third wicket of the morning session when he had Simon Katich caught at forward short leg. Katich, who has handled the number three batting position responsibly in the absence of Ricky Ponting, was out tamely this time. He needed 14 balls for his four runs, which came off a boundary.
At lunch, Australia were 103 for 3, with Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn batting on 11 runs each.
Post-lunch session (142 runs, 1 wicket, 29 overs)
Lehmann went into the match knowing very well that it could be his last chance in the series what with young Michael Clarke almost cementing his place in the side and Ricky Ponting set to return for the fourth Test in Mumbai. He flashed hard over the slips and cover and led a charmed life on his way to 70. On 67, he looked in a spot of bother and Hayden came out as a runner for him.
But it was Martyn, with a solid a 104 in the Chennai Test behind him, who impressed again with his discipline. The Western Australian batsman shrugged off his tedious approach and pierced the field on either side with ease. By the time he had completed his fifty, he had creamed India's bowlers for nine boundaries.
The middle order has given the Aussies the upper hand throughout the series, and once again they were able to keep the boat floating after a mini crisis at the top, thanks to Lehmann and Martyn. With Agarkar and left-arm spinner Murali Karthik, both playing their first match in the series, unable to create an impression, Australia were let off the hook.
Kumble completed his second spell shortly after the break, and with Zaheer too unable to provide another breakthrough, Tendulkar was brought into the attack in the 47th over. He started off with gentle seamers. His strategy of bowling round the stumps almost worked, but he spilled a difficult caught and bowled chance that came off a leading edge from Lehmann, on 68.
The batsman though was out the very next over, caught by Dravid off Karthik after adding just two runs to his total.
Lehmann and Martyn put on a partnership of 148 runs (186 balls, 129 minutes). Lehman's 70 off 83 balls was studded with ten fours.
At the tea break, Australia were 245 for 4, with Martyn on 80 and Michael Clarke on 6.
Post-tea session (117 runs, 3 wickets, 36 overs)
Dravid employed a double spin attack. Earlier he persisted with pace at one end. Though the fast bowlers were given a loaded slip cordon, the spinners were not well supported. Karthik bowled with just one slip for most of the time, with no close-in fielders.
In the 63rd over, Kumble was introduced to relieve Karthik, who bowled a 13-over spell spread over two sessions. The decision though may have come late in the day as Australia had already gone past the 300 mark and looked set to post a big first innings total.
Clarke again batted with an assurance, frilled by youthful rebellion. He was guided by Martyn (114, 165b, 16x4,1x6) but maintained his composure even after losing three experienced players in a jiffy at the other end.
After the early flurry of runs, Martyn returned to his calculated batting and went past hundred with a crisp square cut. The batsman lingered in the late nineties for a while, waiting for the perfect shot to reach his second consecutive century in the series. His hundred came off 153 balls, with the help of 15 boundaries.
In the 73rd over, Martyn hit Kumble for a six over long-off. But, in an attempt to repeat the shot, he was trapped by Kumble's guile as the ball shot up straight off a leading edge to fall into Agarkar's hands.
Adam Gilchrist couldn't do much damage, as he was out caught and bowled by Kartik for two.
Karthik did the all-important turnaround for India. Bowling for the first time in the series, the left-arm spinner grew in confidence and got three wickets for his team.
Shane Warne (2) followed his skipper in a hurry, as he was stumped off Karthik. Warne hasn't been able to make any impact with the bat despite him promising an improved performance.
The Indian ground fielding was shoddy; the fieldsmen showed no urgency to stop Martyn and Clarke from stealing the ones and twos.
Added to that was the poor showing by Parthiv. He failed with an easy stumping chance from Clarke when the batsman was on 56. Clarke had another reprieve on 62 as Parthiv failed to hold an easy edged catch off Zaheer.
With Clarke and Gillespie, who used up 42 balls for his four runs, unbeaten at the wicket at the end of the day, memories of the fourth day in the Chennai Test will return to torment the Indians. Both are capable of pushing Australia past the 500-run mark.
