Australia survive India scare

Peter Siddle removes Harbhajan Singh for 49 with the second ball of the final over when the seamer conceded four

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Peter Siddle held his nerve in the final over as Australia overcame a stunning India fightback to secure a pulsating four-run victory in the first one-day international in Vadodara.

Ricky Ponting made 74 and Mike Hussey hit a rapid 73 off just 54 balls, while Tim Paine and Cameron White also passed 50 in a commanding total of 292 for eight.

Gautam Gambhir responded with a fine 68 and pieced together useful partnerships with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli, but India were firm underdogs when they slipped to 201 for seven with little more than 10 overs remaining.

However, Harbhajan Singh smashed 49 off 31 deliveries, sharing a thrilling eighth-wicket stand of 83 with Praveen Kumar to take India to within sight of an unlikely victory.

Harbhajan fell to the second ball of the final over, bowled by Siddle, leaving India needing eight off four deliveries. They managed only three as Praveen finished unbeaten on 40 off 32 balls.

Australia captain Ponting won the toss, only to lose opener Shane Watson lbw in the second over to a delivery from Ashish Nehra that seamed back in.

Ponting and Paine enjoyed some luck in a 97-run stand which ended when the latter was caught behind for 50 off Ishant Sharma, and when Ponting was lbw to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, the tempo fell.

White and Hussey helped rebuild but White departed for 51 in the first over of the batting powerplay, and Australia seemed in danger of losing their way when Adam Voges and James Hopes perished cheaply.

Hussey, though, accelerated superbly towards the end of the innings, striking eight fours and a six in his ultimately decisive innings.

India's chase stuttered at the start as openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar succumbed for 13 and 14 respectively.

Kohli helped Gambhir repair the damage with a 58-run stand for the third wicket which was broken when part-time left-arm spinner Voges had Kohli taken at long-off.

Dhoni and Gambhir put on 64 for the fourth wicket, but the left-hander was trapped in front by Mitchell Johnson, who also got rid of Suresh Raina before Dhoni holed out off Brett Lee.

India needed an improbable 92 from the last 10 overs, but Harbhajan and Praveen kept them in the hunt with a stream of boundaries. Siddle went for 13 in the 48th over, and Watson disappeared for 20 in the 49th.

Nine was required from the final over, but Siddle bowled Harbhajan and conceded only three singles off the last four balls to secure victory.