First Test: Australia reach 153/4 at tea vs India

Pune, Feb 23 (IANS) Australia lost three quick wickets in the second session to reach 153/4 at tea on the opening day of the first Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.

Opener Matt Renshaw (38), who returned to bat after a bout of stomach illness, and Mitchell Marsh (2) were at the crease when the umpires called for the tea break.

Resuming the session at 84/1, Australia fell in the trap of the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja with Ashwin getting the prized wicket of skipper Steve Smith just before the break.

Shaun Marsh (16) and Peter Handscomb (22) were the other two batsmen to fall in the second session of play, which yielded 69 runs for the visitors.

Brief Scores: Australia: 1st innings 153/4 (Matt Renshaw 38 not out, David Warner 38, Steve Smith 27, Umesh Yadav 1/16, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/37) vs India.