Slater's stay at the crease was cut short when he was caught by Laxman off Harbhajan after making 48 runs. He struck four boundaries and two sixes in his brave effort to get out of the rut. Justin Langer (21) never looked like being in the middle for a long time and was brilliantly caught by Laxman off the bowling of Bahutule to leave the Aussies reeling at 141/4; effectively reduced to 31/4 as they were 110 runs behind in the first innings. It took the experience and the expertise of the Waugh twins to dig Australia out of trouble. Mark Waugh as usual played with effortless ease and never was troubled by the guiles of the spinners. Steve put his head down to play a long innings as the brothers put together 52 runs for the fifth wicket. Mark Waugh made 57 with the help of seven sweetly timed boundaries before being brilliantly caught by Dravid at backward short leg off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh.