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A dominant Australia eased to a comprehensive 337-run victory over India in the first Test on Saturday when they dismissed the visitors for 161 in the second innings in the final session of the fourth day.

The Australians, who have won 15 successive Tests, exploited a wearing pitch to restrict the scoring while they chipped away at India's vaunted batting line-up, capturing the 10 wickets needed for victory with more than a day to spare.

Vangipurappu Laxman top-scored for India with 42 and Sourav Ganguly [Images] added 40, but the tourists never looked like getting anywhere near the 499 runs needed for victory.

All Australia's bowlers contributed to their victory, with Mitchell Johnson taking 3-21 off 15 overs, while Stuart Clark took two wickets, bowled nine maidens and conceded just 20 runs off his 15 overs.

The Australians, who were outstanding with the ball and in the field, blasted through any semblance of Indian resistance after tea with the capture of three wickets in four balls highlighting their dominance.

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni [Images] was the first wicket to fall after the break when he was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist [Images] off Mitchell Johnson for 11 before India imploded.

SWELTERING HEAT

Captain Anil Kumble [Images] was dismissed in the same fashion for eight, while Harbhajan Singh [Images] was then run out, without facing a ball, on the first ball of the next over from Brad Hogg [Images] when Ganguly sent him back.

Ganguly, who had sought medical treatment during the middle session because of the sweltering heat, was trapped in front by Hogg two balls later to leave the Indians on 157-9.

Johnson ended the match when he clean bowled Rudra Pratap Singh for two shortly afterwards.

The Indians, who found scoring difficult in both of their innings, with only one player, Sachin Tendulkar [Images] (62), passing 50 in either knock, were strangled by the Australians from the outset on Saturday with their total not reaching 50 until the 32nd over.

All of the top-order batsmen, apart from Laxman and Ganguly were unable to push on after making starts.

Gilchrist, who took four catches in the first innings, took another four in the second to move past Ian Healy for the most dismissals by an Australian wicketkeeper.

He now has 399 dismissals, just behind South Africa's Mark Boucher [Images], who holds the world record with 406.

No other active player has more than 200.

The next match in the four-Test series, where the Australians will be seeking a world record-equalling 16th successive victory, begins on January 2 in Sydney.

Matthew Hayden [Images] was named man of the match.