Adelaide, Jan 24 (IANS): Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck twice to leave Australia at 98 for three at lunch on the opening day of the fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval here Tuesday.

The visitors edged out Australia in the morning session by taking two early wickets of David Warner (8) and Shaun Marsh (3) and then breaking a 53-run stand between Ed Cowan (30) and Ricky Ponting just before the break. Ponting was unbeaten on 43 and was joined by captain Michael Clarke (8) at the crease.

Ashwin, who was brought into the attack in the fourth over of the match by India's stand-in captain Virender Sehwag, bowled well for his two wickets. Zaheer Khan (1/13) got the important wicket of Warner.

India bowled with discipline in the first hour after Clarke decided to bat on a good batting surface at the Adelaide Oval.

Zaheer troubled the left-handed opening pair with his persistent off-stump line and got rid of the dangerous Warner with an incoming delivery hitting on his pads, getting him leg before.

Umesh Yadav was wayward in his first over and was instantly replaced by Ashwin, who gave good support to Zaheer. Yadav ended up leaking 41 runs in five overs.

Ashwin, who missed the last Test, was not afraid to flight the ball and was also able to stop the flow of runs, giving away 20 runs in 9 overs.

His first wicket was of out-of-form Marsh, who was bowled while playing for the turn to a ball that went straight through the gate, leaving Australia at 31 for two in 10 overs.

Ashwin's second scalp came just when it looked Australia were getting back into the contest with Ponting playing shots all around the ground. Cowan tried to do the same but was caught at short cover by V.V.S. Laxman.