Mohali, Mar 15 (IANS): Opening batsman David Warner and Ed Cowan gave a steady start to Australia as they took the visitors to 109 for no loss in the first innings on the second day of the third cricket Test against India at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Friday.

After the first day's play was washed out due to rain without a ball being bowled, bright sunny skies welcomed the two teams on the second day. Play started 30 minutes early at 9 a.m.

Warner was batting on 54 and Cowan on 43 as Australia went into lunch after their first 100-run stand in the series.

Following Michael Clarke's decision to bat, Warner and Cowan made a cautious start but grew in confidence as the game progressed. They played within their limitations and collected runs efficiently.

Cowan was lucky on 35, when his attempted cut shot whizzed past Virat Kohli at slip off recalled left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Warner also had a lucky escape on 50 when his edge went past Kohli's right hand off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Ojha extracted bounce and spin, but that hardly troubled the Australian openers.

Earlier, India made one change by leaving out Harbhajan Singh for Ojha. Debutant Shikhar Dhawan got his Test cap from Sachin Tendulkar.

Australia made four changes. Brad Haddin comes in place of Matthew Wade, Steve Smith for Shane Watson, Nathan Lyon for Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc for James Patinson.