Slater insists the catch was fair

Dravid was lucky when he had made 22 as he pulled a ball from Damien Fleming and Michael Slater dived forward at mid-wicket to claim a catch.

Home umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan called for TV replays to be studied and Dravid was eventually given the benefit of the doubt as to whether the ball had touched the ground before Slater complted the catch.

Tendulkar's assurance grew and he took the attack to the tourists, who were understandably elated when he was dismissed for 65 after hitting 11 boundaries.

There was a large slice of good fortune for Australia as the ball bounced off Justin Langer at short leg and Ricky Ponting ran to his right from mid-wicket and took the catch after a full length dive.

Wickets tumble

Tendulkar curses his luck after being dismissed

India suffered another major blow two runs later when skipper Sourav Ganguly was slow to respond to a call for a single and was run out by Slater's throw to Shane Warne at the bowler's end.

VVS Laxman raced to 12 with three boundaries but was then caught behind off Waugh and Dravid's 196-ball vigil came to an end without firther addition when he was bowled by Warne for 39.

Ajit Agarkar was bowled for a duck by Waugh and Gillespie increased India's gloom immediately after tea when he had Nayan Mongia caught behind for 28 and bowled Sanghvi.

Javagal Srinath bravely came out to bat despite breaking a finger during India's first innings but lasted only eight balls before he was bowled by McGrath, leaving Harbhajan Singh unbeaten on 17.

Slater and Hayden came out with a purpose and hit eight boundaries between them, plus a six by Hayden, as Australia wrapped up the match in short order.

The second Test starts in Calcutta on 11 March, with Australia confident of achieving their first series win on Indian soil since 1969-70.