NEW DELHI, Oct 29: Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir struck a career-best unbeaten 149 to propel India to 296-3 on an ill-tempered first day of the third Test against Australia here on Wednesday.

Gambhir put on 130 runs with Sachin Tendulkar (68) and also shared 139 runs with Vangipurappu Laxman (54 not out) for the unbroken fourth wicket after the hosts were reeling at 27-2 in the morning session.

The opener, who bettered his previous-best knock of 139 against Bangladesh, was involved in verbal sparring with the tourists, who must avoid defeat here if they are to keep alive their chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

They trail 1-0 in the four-Test series after losing the previous match in Mohali by 320 runs. The opener in Bangalore ended in a draw.

Tensions between the two teams came to the boil when Gambhir apparently elbowed Shane Watson while taking a second run after the all-rounder seemed to mutter something to the batsman.

“It was not deliberate,” Gambhir told reporters after the day’s play. “It was accidental. They were desperate to get me out and wanted to break my concentration. It was one of those incidents that keep happening in international cricket.”

Watson unleashed a nasty bouncer in his next over but Gambhir responded by lofting him for a six over long-on to bring up his third Test century and second on the trot after his second-innings 104 in Mohali.

The left-hander, who has hit 20 fours and a six in his 285-ball knock, also became involved in a spat with part-time bowler Simon Katich, forcing umpire Billy Bowden to intervene.

The trouble started when Katich apparently tried to obstruct Gambhir from taking a run and the Indian made his displeasure clear. Katich charged at Gambhir but Michael Clarke pulled him away and Bowden stepped in promptly.

Clarke tried to downplay the incident later on. “I was standing at midwicket. I didn’t hear what they were saying. I just took away Katich and told him to let go.”

The Australian vice-captain also said the team would try to take some quick wickets with the new ball on Thursday to put the hosts under pressure.

“Our bowlers tried very hard on a flat wicket today. We should make the new ball count now because once it gets old, it becomes easier for the batsmen. So we will try to get Gambhir early with the new ball.”

Laxman, playing his 99th Test, batted with composure amid all the action around him, reaching his 36th Test fifty.

Tendulkar made a fine 68 with 11 boundaries before edging behind to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin off Mitchell Johnson (2-69) in the last over before tea.

Tendulkar, 35, looked in sublime touch during his knock, whipping Cameron White past extra cover and following it up with a slog sweep over midwicket to force the leg-spinner out of the attack.

The star batsman reached his 51st half-century with a four off Stuart Clark, who conceded just 29 runs off his 21 overs but failed to take a wicket.

The hosts lost in-form opener Virender Sehwag (1) and the usually dependable Rahul Dravid for 11 after Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat on an easy-paced track.

Sehwag had faced just two balls when he was trapped leg before off Brett Lee (1-70) in the third over of the day.

Dravid hit Johnson for a four to fine leg but then edged the bowler to Matthew Hayden, celebrating his 37th birthday, in the slips.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings):

G. Gambhir not out 149

V. Sehwag lbw b Lee 1

R. Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 11

S.R. Tendulkar c Haddin b Johnson 68

V.V.S. Laxman not out 54

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, NB-4) 13

TOTAL (for three wkts, 89 overs) 296

FALL OF WKTS: 1-5, 2-27, 3-157.

TO BAT: S.C. Ganguly, M.S. Dhoni, A. Kumble, Zaheer Khan, A. Mishra, I. Sharma.

BOWLING (to-date): Lee 19-1-70-1; Clark 21-8-29-0 (1nb); Johnson 17-1-69-2; Watson 13-4-41-0 (3nb); White 4-0-27-0; Clarke 9-0-34-0; Katich 6-1-17-0.

AUSTRALIA: M.L. Hayden, S.M. Katich, R.T. Ponting, M.E.K. Hussey, M.J. Clarke, S.R. Watson, B.J. Haddin, C.L. White, B. Lee, M.G. Johnson, S.R. Clark.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: S.L. Shastri (India).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).—AFP