Australia ease to victory over India

The tourists had started the day needing a record-breaking 493 runs for an unlikely triumph but they never looked like coming close to that total as they were 161 all out.

Australia will now head into the Sydney Test looking to equal their own record of 16 straight Test wins set by Steve Waugh's side in 1999-2001.

India struggled in the heat and by tea they had lost five wickets before managing to survive less than an hour after the break.

They had frustrated Australia in the morning session as they laboured to 56 for two at lunch.

Adam Gilchrist had taken a catch off Brett Lee to dismiss Wasim Jaffer for 15 before Andrew Symonds took the crucial wicket of Rahul Dravid shortly before the break.

Sachin Tendulkar was out for 15 in the 41st over when he edged a ball from Lee through to Gilchrist with India struggling at 77 for three.

VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly appeared to have steadied the ship somewhat after the break with the former having amassed 42 runs before a lapse in concentration saw him drive a ball from Stuart Clark straight to Michael Clarke at cover.

And just before tea Yuvraj Singh, who was cleared of showing dissent at an umpire's decision in the first innings, was out lbw for five.

In the final session the wickets fell quickly as MS Dhoni edged behind to Gilchrist from Mitchell Johnson before Anil Kumble was dismissed for eight.

Harbhajan Singh was run out without facing a ball before Ganguly (40) was caught at bat pad off Brad Hogg's bowling soon after.

Finally, the victory was confirmed when RP Singh was bowled out by Johnson for two.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was impressed by the way his bowlers squeezed India.

"In Australia we're used to being able to blast teams out and have lots of slips and gullies in place, but this game we've had to do things differently and we've been able to do it very well," said Ponting.

"It's a very pleasing win because the wicket we played on was probably more suited to the sub-continental style of play and we've adapted and done it really well.

"When the Indian batsmen are under that sort of pressure, I think that created a lot of apprehension right through their batting order.

"When the scoreboard's not ticking over like that, I know myself as a batsman, you want things to be ticking over, it just takes a little bit of pressure off you.

"If we could keep the runs to a minimum I felt we could create more chances, and that's how it panned out."

Indian captain Anil Kumble denied his batsmen were intimidated by Australia and promised they would have a more positive outlook for the second Test in Sydney.

"It's something which we will discuss and ensure they're a bit more relaxed in the field and when they go out to bat, probably a bit more positive," he said.

"I never thought that we were intimidated. Yes, Australia did bowl well and bat well under the conditions, (but) not a single time I really felt that we were intimidated.

"I think we have the quality. People doubted our quality in terms of picking up 20 wickets. We have showed that we have the bowling power to pick up wickets, it's just a matter of batters running around and ensuring that we get a good score."