Tendulkar leads the way

India's Sachin Tendulkar during his century on the opening day with Australia © Getty Images

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Sachin Tendulkar’s century crowned an encouraging first day for India as they sought to win the fourth Test against Australia to tie the series.

After skipper Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat first, Tendulkar went to work, making an unbeaten 124 by the close of play in Adelaide with India on 309 for five.

Having named five bowlers for the match - they brought in spinner Harbhajan Singh for Wasim Jaffer - India needed a star performance from Tendulkar if the gamble was to have a chance of paying off.

They were helped by some weak fielding by the Australians but there were also half-centuries from Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman as the tourists continued their good form from the WACA, where victory had narrowed Australia’s lead in the four-Test series to 2-1.

Matthew Hayden returned for Australia after injury in place of Chris Rogers while Brad Hogg replaced Shaun Tait.

Mitchell Johnson puts his back into another delivery but India are on top © Getty Images

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Irfan Pathan, who performed impressively in the victory at Perth, was asked to open the batting but Sehwag caught the eye, producing some fluid strokes as India got off to a quick start before a disciplined home attack reined the tourists back in by the interval.

Pathan clipped Mitchell Johnson to the midwicket boundary off the first ball he faced, while Sehwag drove Brett Lee for four.

The latter then inside edged an inswinging delivery from Johnson narrowly past his stumps before hitting the same bowler to the ropes through point off the back foot.

Johnson remained unperturbed, however, and after seeing Sehwag edge a streaky boundary through the vacant third-slip area, managed to get one to leave Pathan off the pitch.

The left-hander edged to Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps when playing away from his body to depart for nine and leave India 34 for one.

The left-arm seamer then claimed his second wicket of the morning when he angled a ball across Rahul Dravid that found some extra bounce and the outside edge. Ricky Ponting took the catch.

Sehwag brought up his half-century off 68 balls - it included six boundaries - as India reached 89 for two at lunch before Johnson had a loud shout for lbw against the batsman turned down shortly after the interval.

At the other end, Tendulkar got off the mark with a glorious on-drive off Lee before stroking Johnson for three consecutive boundaries, the first through point to bring up India's hundred.

India's Virender Sehwag edges to Matthew Hayden in the slips © Getty Images

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Tendulkar then paddled Hogg around the corner for four before Australia claimed a third wicket when Sehwag tried to cut Lee, but a lack of footwork meant he only steered the ball to Hayden at first slip.

Tendulkar also escaped when he edged Lee between gully and second slip for four but then showed his class in dispatching Hogg over long-on for six.

However, Sourav Ganguly then fell lbw for seven when trying to sweep the spinner, although he looked to be well forward.

That brought Laxman to the crease and he got off the mark with a leg glance off Stuart Clark before Tendulkar completed his 50 off 77 balls.

Laxman and Tendulkar made careful progress in the evening session with the former surviving a dropped catch.

Lee got a substantial edge off Laxman on 37, and the ball flew to Gilchrist, who fumbled the ball to his right to groans from the crowd.

Laxman took advantage of his reprieve to add another 14 runs before Gilchrist made amends for his earlier error with an even easier catch than the one he dropped.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Tendulkar and survived a sitter of his own when he edged Johnson to Hayden, who was aghast to see it spin off his fingertips, allowing India to reach stumps without further loss.