BRISBANE, Dec 5: Australia collapsed in spectacular fashion to 323 for nine on a rain-interrupted second day of the first Test against India on Friday.

The hosts had resumed at a commanding 262 for two but India left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan completed figures of five for 95 to put the tourists back in the match before bad light ended play early.

Australia lost three wickets for 13 runs in the opening session, which was curtailed by rain, then four more after tea.

Captain Steve Waugh, playing his last series before retiring, was dismissed without scoring after stepping on his stumps and two batsmen were run out, one off a no-ball.

Only 16 overs were completed as the Gabba was hit by a series of torrential downpours but the action could not have been more gripping.

Opener Justin Langer added six runs to his overnight 115 before he was trapped lbw by Ajit Agarkar and Damien Martyn and Waugh followed in quick succession during a spectacular 30-minute spell before lunch.

Martyn was run out for 42 after a bizarre mix-up with his captain then Waugh departed without scoring when he stepped on his stumps.

Waugh, who needs 515 runs in his final four matches to pass Allan Border as cricket’s leading test run-scorer, fended a short-pitched delivery from Zaheer to fine leg but clipped the off-stump with his right heel as he set off on a run.

Waugh, the first Australian in 22 years to be given out hit wicket, had reached the other end when the Indian fielders noticed the bail had been dislodged but he walked off as soon they appealed.

Waugh’s unusual dismissal came just two deliveries after Martyn was needlessly run out off a no-ball.

Martyn, who had resumed on 36, had just cut Khan through point for four then drove the next ball square.

He strolled through for two runs and turned for a third but immediately changed his mind when he spotted Harbhajan Singh fielding the ball just inside the boundary rope.

He screamed at his captain to stop but Waugh carried on and once it became apparent that one of them was going to be run out Martyn sacrificed his wicket.

The entire middle session was washed out as another storm drenched the ground and only 10.2 overs were bowled after tea.

Adam Gilchrist went for a duck when he edged Zaheer to Vangipurappu Laxman at second slip and Laxman took a catch in the same position off Agarkar to get rid off Andy Bichel for 11.

Simon Katich, the last recognised batsman, fell for 16 when Zaheer found the edge and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel took the catch and Jason Gillespie was run out for eight after a mix-up with Nathan Bracken.

Bracken, on his Test debut, survived to reach stumps unbeaten on six with Stuart MacGill on one.

Thursday’s opening day was also disrupted by showers and cut short by bad light, so the umpires agreed to extend the final three days to make up for lost time.

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