Kumble and Singh Put India in Command

Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket and a superb spell of bowling from India's seamers put the tourists on top as the Australian batting line-up crumbled at the Waca.

It took a magnificent counter-attacking display from Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist to take the home side to any sort of respectable total; Australia were at one point reeling on 61 for five before stumbling to 212 all out. Virender Sehwag's unbeaten 29 from 36 balls then helped India to 52 for one by the close of play, a lead of 170.

India had resumed on 297 with four first-innings wickets in hand and Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni batted patiently to take the score to 328 in the first 11 overs of the day, before Dhoni was controversially dismissed by Stuart Clark. Television replays suggested the ball was going over the stumps but the wicketkeeper was given out law. India added only two more runs as Mitchell Johnson and Clark polished off the tail with little fuss, Johnson ending with figures of four for 86.

That mini-collapse appeared to take away India's momentum, but they struck quickly at the start of the Australian innings. Chris Rogers, making his Test debut, was dismissed lbw by Pathan for four with only 12 runs on the board. Pathan struck again two balls later when Phil Jaques edged to VVS Laxman at second slip.

Michael Hussey then fell for a duck edging RP Singh behind to Dhoni, leaving Australia struggling on 14 for three. Ricky Ponting was next to go, edging Ishant Sharma to Rahul Dravid at third slip and the same bowler dismissed Michael Clarke to leave the home side reeling.

However, Symonds and Gilchrist steadied the ship with a sixth-wicket stand of 102. Symonds, who brought up his half-century with a huge six just wide of the sight screen, made 66 off 70 balls before becoming Kumble's 600th Test victim. Gilchrist fell for 55 from 61 balls, edging Singh to Dhoni, one of five catches for the keeper in the innings.

That left Australia on 192 for seven and the final three wickets fell for the addition of just 20 runs. Singh collected the wickets of Brett Lee and Clark to finish with figures of four for 68, while Kumble took a return catch to dismiss Shaun Tait and end the innings.

Clark did at least strike before the close, dismissing Wasim Jaffer in the penultimate over of the day, but with Sehwag unbeaten on 29 India made their way to a lead of 170 and one they will look to build on tomorrow.