Australia score modest 263 underpinned by Khawaja, Handscomb

NEW DELHI :Usman Khawaja struck an enterprising 81 and Peter Handscomb made an unbeaten 72 as Australia laboured to a modest 263 all out on the opening day of the second test against India in New Delhi on Friday.

While the total did not quite vindicate Pat Cummins' decision to bat first, it was still better than the 177 and 91 Australia managed in their two innings in Nagpur where they were hammered inside three days.

On three occasions Australia lost wickets either in the same or in successive overs, stymieing any rebuilding efforts in their stop-start innings.

India hit 21 runs off the last nine overs of the day with skipper Rohit Sharma (13) and KL Rahul (four) both not out at the close.

With all-rounder Cameron Green and paceman Mitchell Starc still recovering from finger injuries, Australia took a bold selection gamble that left Cummins as their lone fast bowler.

Travis Head replaced fellow batter Matt Renshaw, but a bigger surprise was the inclusion of Matt Kuhnemann for his test debut as Australia's third spinner at the expense of paceman Scott Boland.

Cummins opted to bat on a track that offered significant bounce but their openers endured a tough opening hour at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

David Warner, who managed scores of one and 10 in their innings defeat in Nagpur, needed 21 balls to open his account.

By then he had already survived on review after being given lbw to Mohammed Shami (4-60).

Warner struggled against Mohammed Siraj in particular and was hit twice, once on the arm and then on the helmet, before Shami dismissed him caught behind for 15.

Marnus Labuschagne (18) hit four fours before Ravichandran Ashwin (3-57) struck twice in three balls to wreck Australia's top order.

Labuschagne, rapped on the pad, was