First one-day international: India v Australia, Vadodara: Australia 292-8 bt India 288 by four runs
 Siddle's last-over dismissal of Harbhajan was the decisive moment |
Australia survived a stunning assault from Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar to win the first one-day international against India in Vadodara on Sunday. Captain Ricky Ponting (74) and Mike Hussey (73 off 54 balls) helped the Champions Trophy winners post 292-8. Despite Gautam Gambhir's 68 India were struggling on 201-7 with 10 overs left. But Harbhajan (49 off 31) and Praveen (40 not out off 32) put on a blistering 84 before Peter Siddle slammed the door shut with a superb final over. The partnership was an Indian record for the eighth wicket against Australia and until Siddle's laser-guided last over it had looked as though it might be enough to help the hosts pull off an unlikely victory. Shane Watson went for 20 in the penultimate over of the innings as he lost his line and length and bowled a series of wide full tosses that the Indian tail-enders merrily smeared through the covers and behind square.  | It was a terrific game of cricket in the end and we would have been disappointed had we lost |
That meant only nine were needed off the last over but where Watson had lost his nerve, the snarling Siddle was ice cool. He ripped a full-pitched delivery past Harbhajan's bat to bowl the spinner off the second ball of the over and then fired in a series of spearing yorkers to ensure Australia escaped with a victory that puts them 1-0 up in the seven-match series. "It was a pretty good performance until the last six or seven overs of the game," said Ponting. "It was a terrific game of cricket in the end and we would have been disappointed had we lost." After winning the toss and batting Australia soon lost Watson, the hero of their Champions Trophy final triumph, but Ponting and opener Tim Paine steadied the ship. They enjoyed some minor slices of luck in a 97-run stand which ended when keeper Paine was caught behind off Ishant Sharma for 50. After Ponting went lbw to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja the run rate fell as Cameron White and Hussey began the process of rebuilding. When White fell for 51 and Adam Voges and James Hopes both fell cheaply it looked as though Australia were in danger of losing their way, but Hussey accelerated superbly at the death, hitting Praveen for 18 runs in an over and helping Australia to a decent total. | 606: DEBATE |
India stuttered at the start of their chase, with openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar falling cheaply. Gambhir then shared in stands of 58 with Virat Kohli and 64 with captain Mahendra Dhoni but India needed an improbable 92 from the last 10 overs. It looked to be beyond the hosts but Harbhajan and Praveen swung the bat with freedom and despite the rate climbing into the mid-teens they managed to keep the game alive. Each boundary was greeted with increasingly enthusiastic high-fives by the Indian dressing room and when Watson was taken apart in the 49th over India looked to have the momentum. But Siddle had other ideas and after ending Harbhajan's hugely entertaining innings he closed the game out with a series of fine deliveries to spare Australia's blushes. The second match takes place in Nagpur on Wednesday and is another day-night contest.
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