Usman Khawaja scored a brilliant hundred as Australia took firm control of the opening day of the fourth and final test against India at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, openers Khawaja along with Travis Head got Australia off to a solid start. The pair added 61 runs for the opening wicket. Head, who was dropped on 7 by wicket keeper KS Bharat off Umesh Yadav, went on to make 32 before being dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin.
Marnus Labuschagne (3) then chopped at a fullish delivery from Mohammed Shami on to his stumps.
Khawaja along with skipper Steve Smith resurrected the innings with a solid partnership of 79 runs for the third wicket before the latter was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 38.
Shami then claimed his second wicket of the day by cleaning up Peter Handscomb (17) with a peach of a delivery to reduce the visitors to 170/4.
However left hander Khawaja (104*) and Cameron Green (49*) kept the hosts at bay by adding an unbeaten 85 run stand for the fifth wicket as Australia ended the opening day at 255/4.
Stumps at the end of Day 1
Australia 255 for 4 (Khawaja 104*, Green 49*, Shami 2-65) vs India
.