India clinched the first cricket Test against Australia with a comfortable eight-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series here today with their spinners taking all the 20 wickets for only the third time in their Test history.

Australia were 232 for nine in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against India here today.

India were all out for 572 in their first innings on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against Australia here today.

Objecting to a Sri Lankan minister’s announcement that Lankan fishermen would rally against their Indian counterparts, DMK chief M. Karunandihi today described it as a “planned strategy” by Colombo to divert attention from the “tyrannies” of Rajapaksa government.

Shares of existing banks lost value on the bourses today amid the RBI issuing guidelines for new bank licences. More than a dozen corporates, including big names such as Aditya Birla Group, M&M, L&T, as well as state-owned PFC, LIC and India Post, are likely to apply to the Reserve Bank for licence to open banks.

Virat Kohli smashed his fourth Test hundred, while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni inched closer to his sixth as India reached 371 for six at tea on the third day of the first cricket Test against Australia here today.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today visited Thursday’s blast sites and hospitals where the injured are being treated to express “solidarity” with the people of the city and appealed for peace and calm.

India were 515 for eight at stumps on the third day in reply to Australia’s 380 all out in the opening cricket Test at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here today.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave an exhibition of blistering strokeplay to hit a career-best undefeated 206 while Virat Kohli cracked 107 as India rode on their captain’s batting brilliance to gain control of the first cricket Test against Australia by taking a substantial 135-run first innings lead here today.

Ahead of the launch of the Indo- French satellite ‘SARAL’ onboard ISRO’s workhorse rocket PSLV from Sriharikota, ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan today offered worship at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here.