Cricket: Warne record as India dominate

India 290-4 v Australia

SHANE WARNE became the most successful spin bowler in Test history yesterday when he snapped up two Indian wickets in the third and final Test in Bangalore.

The Australian leg-spinner reached his landmark as India scored 172 for 3 at tea on the opening day. Warne beat the mark of 309 held by West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs when he took the wicket of Rahul Dravid in his 67th Test. Gibbs had taken 79 Tests to achieve his haul.

Warne, who had figures of 0 for 142 in the second Test in Calcutta, which Australia lost by an innings and 219 runs, overhauled Gibbs by dismissing Navjot Sidhu (74) and Dravid (23) in successive overs.

However, his achievement was eclipsed by the batting of Sachin Tendulkar, who hit an unbeaten 117 as India continued their assault on Australia's long-suffering bowlers.

The Indians, seeking a clean sweep after winning the first two Tests, made the Australians toil under the scorching sun to score 290 for 4 by the close.

First day; India won toss

INDIA - First Innings

V V S Laxman c Taylor b Kasprowicz 6

N S Sidhu b Warne 74

R Dravid b Warne 23

S R Tendulkar not out 117

*M A Azharuddin c Healy b Lehmann 40

S C Ganguly not out 17

Extras (nb5, lb2, b6) 13

Total (for 4, 90 overs) 290

Fall: 1-24, 2-109, 3-110, 4-249.

To Bat: N R Mongia, A Kumble, Harvinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh, S L V Raju.

Bowling: Kasprowicz 21-4-46-1; Dale 16-4-49-0; Warne 27-8-66-2; Blewett 9-3-26-0; Robertson 6-0-44-0; Waugh 4-0-24-0; Lehmann 7-1-27-1.

AUSTRALIA: *M A Taylor, M J Slater, G S Blewett, M E Waugh, R T Ponting, D S Lehmann, I A Healy, S K Warne, G R Robertson, M S Kasprowicz, A C Dale.

Umpires: V K Ramaswamy and D R Shepherd.