Waugh collects another boundary

Three batsmen ran themselves out and others perished to poor shots, but Badani maintained some order with fluent strokeplay around the wicket.

The 24-year-old left-hander hit 10 boundaries and two sixes. He came in at 60 for three and reached his century in the penultimate over when an overthrow from Australian captain Steve Waugh brought him two runs.

But he fell off the next ball, lofting left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken to long-on.

Badani put on 93 for the fourth wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman (51), before Australia hit back with three wickets in the space of nine runs.

Sunil Joshi helped Badani add 59 for the seventh wicket, himself contributing 19.

Flying start

Australia, who dropped leg-spinner Shane Warne, relied on their three fast bowlers, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and Bracken, who picked up two wickets each.

Sachin Tendulkar gave the hosts a flying start with six fours and a six in his 32 off 29 balls.

Laxman, who ran out Tendulkar in the first one-dayer, meted out the same treatment to Dravid by turning his back on the batsman after calling him for a single.

Laxman went on to hit his maiden half-century in one-day cricket when he too was run out, charging down the non-striker's end in an attempt to give Badani his own 50.

Sourav Ganguly is bowled for four

Debutant Dinesh Mongia had made two when he ran himself out, failing to respond to Badani's call for a single after playing the ball to third man.

Australia began brightly. Matthew Hayden and Waugh put on 143 for the first wicket in 25 overs.

By the time Hayden (57) mistimed a heave off Zaheer Khan to extra cover, they were well on top.

Waugh dominated the scoring, but survived one scare when Darren Lehmann was run out.

India claimed Waugh should have been dismissed after both batsmen were left stranded in the middle of the pitch.

The fielders believed the batsmen had crossed, but replays proved indecisive and so Waugh survived.

Waugh and Michael Bevan (33 not out) ensured Australia did not squander their position. They added 86 to steer their side home, Bevan sweeping Sunil Joshi for the winning boundary with 29 balls to spare.

Teams:

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Mongia, Hemang Badani, Vijay Dahiya, Sunil Joshi, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Michael Bevan, Darren Lehmann, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Nathan Bracken, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath.