Melbourne, Dec 29: Australia have won the first Test of the four-match series against India, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Defending a target of 292, James Pattinson (four for 53), Peter Siddle (three for 42) and Ben Hilfenhaus (two for 39) took nine wickets between them as Australia bowled India out for just 169 runs.

Australia resumed Day 4 at 179 for eight with a lead of 230 runs. The hosts were able to extend that lead to 291 after James Pattinson, batting overnight on 3 runs, struck a career best of 37 not out. Michael Hussey then fell on an individual score of 89 becoming Zaheer Khan’s third victim of the innings. But with Ben Hilfenhuas adding 14 vital runs to a 43-run partnership with Pattinson, Australia stretched their second-innings score to 240.

Needing 292 to pull off a dramatic win, the Indian batting capitulated rather meekly. Virender Sehwag (7) fell before lunch while India lost Gautam Gambhir (13), Rahul Dravid (10), VVS Laxman (1), Virat Kohli (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (32) in the post-lunch session.

R Ashwin showed some fight with a 35-ball 30 but Peter Siddle eventually had him caught at short leg off a shortish delivery. From 117 for seven, India were reduced to 142 for nine as Zaheer Khan (13) and MS Dhoni (23) were dismissed in consecutive overs by Pattinson. Umesh Yadav struck a few lusty blows (21 off 25 balls, 2x4, 1x6), but when David Warner took a difficult catch at long on to dismiss him off Nathan Lyon’s bowling, the hosts completed a 122-run win.

The second Test between the two sides will commence on January 3, 2012 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Brief scores:

Day 4: Australia 1st innings 333 all out in 110 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Zaheer Khan 4/77) and Australia 2nd innings 240 all out in 76.3 overs (Michael Hussey 89, Umesh Yadav 4/70) beatIndia 1st innings 282 all out in 94.1 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 73, Ben Hilfenhaus 5/75) and India 2nd innings 169 all out in 47.5 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 32, James Pattinson 4/53) by 122 runs

At end of Day 3: Australia 1st innings 333 all out in 110 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Zaheer Khan 4/77) and Australia 2nd innings 179/8 in 60.0 overs (Michael Hussey 79*, Ricky Ponting 60, Umesh Yadav 4/49); India 1st innings 282 all out in 94.1 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 73, Ben Hilfenhaus 5/75)

At end of Day 2: Australia 1st innings 333 all out in 110 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Zaheer Khan 4/77); India 1st innings 214/3 in 65.0 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 73, Rahul Dravid 68*, Virender Sehwag 67, James Pattinson 1/35)

At end of Day 1: Australia 1st innings 277/6 in 89.0 overs (Ed Cowan 68, Ricky Ponting 62, Umesh Yadav 3/96, Zaheer Khan 2/49)

Man-of-the-match: James Pattinson for his match figures of six for 108, which included his second innings figures of 15-2-53-4