Balaji took 3-20 before rain hit

India face an anxious wait to see if they have qualified for the Dutch tri-series final after their match against Australia was ruined by rain.

If Australia, who hit 175-7 in 31.4 overs before the bad weather hit, beat Pakistan on Wednesday they will play in Saturday's series finale instead.

India seam bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji impressed with figures of 3-20.

But Michael Clarke used the short boundaries to crash 42 from 28 balls as Australia recovered from a slow start.

India, who suffered a 66-run defeat to Pakistan on Saturday, made a single chage, with pace man Ashish Nehra replacing the injured Ajit Agarkar in a side reduced to 32 overs each after a rain-hit morning.

Brad Haddin took over from regular Australia wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, who is taking time off for family reasons, and opened the batting but was caught in the deep of Nehra for five.

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting were early victims for Balaji in a four-over spell that saw just 10 runs scored.

And spinners Virender Sehwag and Anil Kumble held sway in the middle of the innings before Clarke was joined by Darren Lehmann and Brad Hogg to add 68 for the sixth and seventh wickets.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Brad Haddin (wkt), Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath