Symonds secures series

Andrew Symonds hits out during his 107

A magnificent century from Andrew Symonds and four wickets from Brad Hogg ensured victory for Australia in the sixth one-day international at Nagpur and ended any hopes of India salvaging a draw from the series.

Symonds hit a magnificent unbeaten 107 from 88 balls as the Aussies posted an imposing 317 for eight in their 50 overs, but the hosts seemed in with a real chance of victory when Sourav Ganguly (86 from 111) and Sachin Tendulkar (72 from 72) forged an opening partnership of 140.

Brad Hogg claimed four wickets to stall India’s reply and, though Robin Uthappa (44 from 28) rekindled hope, he could not prevent his side losing by 18 runs and falling 4-1 behind in the seven-match series.

With Matthew Hayden out because of a hip injury, Michael Clarke opened the Australian innings with Adam Gilchrist, but he bagged a golden duck suffering a strangle down the legside off the bowling of Zaheer Khan.

Brad Hogg claimed four wickets © Getty Images

Gilchrist (51 off 47 balls) and Ricky Ponting (49 off 44) recovered the situation, compiling a second-wicket partnership of 98, with Gilchrist in particular playing some expansive strokes.

Ponting perished as Rahul Dravid claimed a smart catch at first slip off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh and when Gilchrist and Brad Hodge followed, Australia were stuttering on 129 for four.

But Brad Haddin, in the side because of Hayden’s injury, came to the crease and played the anchor role as Symonds cut loose.

The pair constructed a partnership of 75, with Symonds matching power and finesse to dominate proceedings on the way to his sixth ODI century.

Haddin made 25 off 53 balls before falling to the returning Sri Sreesanth, but that brought James Hopes to the middle.

The all-rounder claimed a rapid 39, holding his own in a partnership of 90 with Symonds before mistiming a hook off Zaheer to Dravid.

A pair of late run-outs did not cause Australia undue discomfort as Symonds continued to dominate the Indian bowlers.

The experienced opening partnership of Ganguly and Tendulkar gave India just the start they needed in response, bringing up their century stand in 120 balls.

Tendulkar was the more aggressive partner, and when he went to a smart stumping by Gilchrist of the bowling of Hopes, India struggled to maintain their impetus.

Robin Uthappa's flurry was not quite enough © Getty Images

Irfan Pathan hit a run-a-ball innings of 29 before becoming the first of Hogg’s victims and the hosts’ reply became bogged down in the middle order.

Hogg (4-49) claimed the wicket of Ganguly, as well as Dravid and Yuvraj Singh who played an unusually ineffectual innings.

A quickfire stand of 72 between Uthappa and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26 off 29) briefly gave the Indians hope, but when the former was the victim of an excellent catch from Hopes diving forward, it signalled the end of the resistance.

Ricky Ponting singled out Symonds and Hogg for praise, saying: “This is a great win, there is no doubt about it.

“Andrew Symonds made an incredible effort, with the ball as well. Not many guys can do what he can do and to score a hundred off 80-odd balls you must be good.

“Hoggy stood out again for us with some vital wickets.”

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said: “We lost wickets at a crucial point and that was crucial for us.

“That’s an area of concern and it’s always going to be tough against Australia.”

The World Twenty20 Champions move on to Mumbai for the seventh and final game with no chance of taking anything from the series.