Tailender Peter Siddle hit his maiden half-century in Australia’s first-innings total of 262 early on day two of the fourth and final Test against India on Saturday.
The struggling tourists had resumed on 8-231 and lost the wickets of Siddle for 51 and James Pattinson for 30.
Australia had reached 2-106 on Friday on a turning pitch in Delhi before losing 5-30 after lunch in a middle-order collapse including the dismissal of stand-in captain Shane Watson stumped for 17.
Opener Ed Cowan (38) and No.3 Phil Hughes (45) made starts while No.6 Steve Smith scored a stylish 46, adding 53 for the eighth wicket with Siddle.
Siddle and Pattinson put on 54 for the ninth wicket and No.10 Pattinson was last man out, having defied India’s spinners for almost two hours.
Siddle hit four boundaries and batted for 170 minutes in a gritty display.
Offspinner Ravi Ashwin took 5-57 off 34 overs, his fourth five-wicket haul of the series.
Australian captain Michael Clarke was unavailable for the fourth Test because of a back injury, which allowed Watson to take over as Australia’s 44th Test skipper.
Clarke, pace bowler Mitchell Starc (ankle surgery) and back-up wicketkeeper Brad Haddin have been sent home to Sydney.
India lead the four-match series three-nil.