MOHALI, India (AFP) — Shane Watson made the most of two dropped catches to score a century as Australia posted 224-5 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against India yesterday.

The Australian opener, let off on nought and 37, made an unbeaten 101 for his second Test hundred to help his side recover from an early blow with a 141-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Ricky Ponting (71).

Watson, who cracked a century in each innings of a practice game before the Test, completed his hundred in the final session when he turned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to deep square-leg for two runs.

He has so far cracked eight fours in his 279-ball knock. Tim Paine was the other not-out batsman on one.

India did not allow Australia to seize the initiative despite Watson’s hundred as left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan grabbed three big wickets, including two in the final session.

The fast bowler trapped Michael Hussey leg-before and then bowled Marcus North for duck. Hussey faced 76 balls for his 17 runs.

Australia, who scored 101 runs in the morning after electing to bat on a pitch lacking pace and bounce, could manage only 45 in the last session. Even Watson could add only 26 to his tea score of 75.

“To get a hundred is good as the conditions are different and it tested my concentration. It was all about playing the ball on its merit and try and rotate the strike,” said Watson.

“Indians bowled well after Ricky’s run-out, so our run-rate dropped in the session. Then the ball started to reverse-swing and Zaheer is a very good bowler, so we couldn’t score much.”

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha kept a tidy line and length, conceding just 39 runs in 31 overs.

Australia were comfortably placed at 154-1 before slipping to 222-5, losing well-set Ponting, vice-captain Michael Clarke (14), Hussey and North.

Ponting, averaging just 20.85 in 12 Tests in India before this match, looked set to play a big knock before he was run out by Suresh Raina’s direct-hit at the striker’s end from mid-wicket.