Australia Resist Late Charge To Take Four-Run Win

Australia beat India by 4 runs

Four Australians scored half-centuries to set their side up for a four-run win over India in the first One-Day International in Vadodara, but they were made to work hard by the free-scoring Indian lower order which gave the match a thrilling finale.

Australia's 292 for eight saw them achieve victory when India were eventually restricted to 288 for eight having looked down and out of the contest when they were reduced to 201 for seven in the 40th over. Australia 's top order of Ricky Ponting (74), Michael Hussey (73), Cameron White (51) and Tim Paine (50) frustrated India after they had got rid of Shane Watson early when he was trapped in front by Ashish Nehra for five.

The next three wickets put on 222 runs but India did hit back late on with Ishant Sharma dismissing Paine (his 50th ODI wicket), Hussey and Brett Lee (0) to finish with three for 50 while Nehra also had White caught by Suresh Raina to return two for 58. Praveen Kumar bowled ten overs for 77 while left-arm spinner Ravi Jadeja, handed a recall, bowled nine tidy overs to return one for 43, capturing the prize wicket of Ponting, lbw in the 30th over.

In reply, India lost openers Virender Sehwag (13) and Sachin Tendulkar (14) but a half-century partnership for the third wicket between Gautam Gambhir, who made 68, and Virat Kohli, who hit 30 kept the match on an even keel. However, it was the batting Power Play that changed the complexion of the match as India lost three key wickets as Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (34) and Suresh Raina (9) fell, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson doing the damage.

Ravi Jadeja marked his return to the side with five before he was trapped in front by Nathan Hauritz and although Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar hit some lusty blows towards the end, they had been left too much to do but their stand of 74 in 57 balls for the eighth wicket kept India 's hopes alive. The second match in the seven-match series is on 28th October in Nagpur .