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New Delhi: Australia once again proved their weakness on spinning tracks as their batsmen crumbled against Indian spinners on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test at Ferozshah Kotla on Friday.
Off-spinner R Ashwin led the attack with 4-40 as India were able to get regular breakthroughs throughout the day as Australia managed 231/8 at stumps on the first day.
Even though the Aussie top-order was not able to stand up against the likes of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, it was their lower-order batsmen who gave India a firm resistance in the final session.
Peter Siddle (47 not out) was the mainstay of the tail-enders as he formed crucial partnerships with Steven Smith (46) and James Pattinson.
Siddle added 53 runs for the eighth wicket with Smith and un-broken 41 with Pattinson for the ninth wicket.
Ashwin and Jadeja shared six wickets between them, with Ashwin taking four while Jadeja picked up the remaining two.
Earlier, Steven Smith and Peter Siddle steadied the otherwise crumbling Australian line up to guide the visitors to 153/7 at tea.
After Ishant Sharma provided a couple of breakthroughs in the opening session, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ripped through Australia's middle-order. The bowlers were also helped by some atrocious shot selection on the part of the Aussie batsmen.
Brief scores
Australia 231 for 8 (Siddle 47*, Aswhin 4-40)
