Some 60,000 shocked fans at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta jeered as their side endured a torrid second day.

First the Indian bowlers let the visitors off the hook as captain Waugh combined with tailender Jason Gillespie for a record 133-run ninth-wicket partnership.

Then their batsmen contrived to fall apart as centurion Waugh turned from master batsman to master tactician.

He sent in six close catchers on the off side and a forward short-leg.

The intimidatory tactics worked as Gillespie claimed the wicket of opener Sadagopan Ramesh with the scoreboard still on zero.

The left-hander casually swished outside the off-stump against Gillespie to give Ricky Ponting an easy catch at second slip.

Gillespie: Seven boundaries

The 35-year-old not only surpassed Tendulkar's tally of 24 Test ceturies, but also overtook Pakistani Javed Miandad to become the fourth highest scorer with 8,847 runs.

Waugh had batted for five hours to shore up the innings after Australia were left struggling at 291-8 at the end of the first day.

Gillespie's 46 was a career-best score and his ability to stick with Waugh allowed Australia to recover from a middle-order collapse.

Their defiant stand was Australia's best against India for the ninth wicket, surpassing the 96 by Ian Healy and Gavin Robertson at Madras during the previous tour in 1998.

Gillespie had an escape on 11 when umpire Shyam Bansal rejected an appeal for a caught behind off seamer Venkatesh Prasad.

31-year drought

Television replays suggested it may have taken his outside edge before going into wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia's gloves.

Gillespie made the most of the reprieve, smashing seven boundaries in his 46 before being dismissed by Harbhajan Singh with Waugh on 93.

The skipper's reply was instant - hoisting Singh for his only six over midwicket then taking a single to reach his century.

He hit 11 fours in his 201 ball knock before being trapped lbw trying to sweep Singh.

McGrath chipped in with 21 not out in a 43-run last-wicket stand.

Australia, who are gunning for their 17th consecutive Test victory but have not won a series in India since 1970, lead the three-match series 1-0.