ADELAIDE, Feb 12 (PTI): Mahendra Singh Dhoni produced a gigantic six in the last over as India broke Australia�s stranglehold by snatching a nail-biting four-wicket victory over the hosts in the cricket tri-series here today.
After restricting Australia to 269 for eight built largely around David Hussey�s 72, the visitors overcame some jitters before overhauling the target with just two balls to spare in a dramatic last over to record their second successive win in the tournament. Gautam Gambhir (92) led the way with an assured knock at the top of the order and the finish was provided by the reliable duo of Suresh Raina (38 off 30 balls) and Dhoni (44 not out) as the visitors chased down the record target of 270.
The Indians needed 13 runs from the last over and Dhoni hit a huge six � 112m � from the third ball off Clint McKay to swing the game in India�s favour. The subsequent ball turned out to be a no-ball and that made the task easier for the Indians.
This is the highest-ever chase India have managed against any side in Australia. Their previous best was 263 against New Zealand in Brisbane in 1986. India�s best chase against Australia was 242 for four in Sydney in 2008. It still was a touch and go when Raina departed in the 47th over and the equation was down to 27 runs from the final three overs. Some brisk running brought it down to 17 from the final two overs.
Xavier Doherty bowled the penultimate over and gave only four runs, claiming Ravindra Jadeja (12) to a catch in the deep. It was now down to 13 from the final over.
The Indian skipper, who batted slowly but assuredly, remained unbeaten on 44 of 58 balls with a solitary six.
SCORECARD
Australia: Warner run out 18, Ponting c Kohli b Vinay Kumar 6, Clarke b Yadav 38, Forrest c Vinay b Umesh Yadav 66, David Hussey c Sehwag b Zaheer 72, Christian run out 39, Wade b Vinay 16, Harris not out 2, McKay run out 3. Extras: (LB-4, W-4, NB-1) 9. Total: (For 8 wkts in 50 overs) 269. Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-53, 3-81, 4-179, 5-235, 6-254, 7-265, 8-269. Bowling: Zaheer Khan 10-0-46-1, Vinay Kumar 10-1-58-2, Ravindra Jadeja 10-0-50-0, Umesh Yadav 10-1-49-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 8-0-47-0, Rohit Sharma 2-0-15-0.
India: Gambhir lbw b McKay 92, Sehwag c Hussey b McKay 20, Kohli c Forrest b McKay 18, Rohit c Mitchell Starc b Ryan Harris 33, Raina b Doherty 38, Dhoni not out 44, Jadeja c Ponting b Doherty 12, Ashwin not out 1. Extras: (LB-2, W-9, NB-1) 12. Total: (for 6 wkts in 49.4 overs) 270. Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-90, 3-166, 4-178, 5-239, 6-257. Bowling: Ryan Harris 10-0-57-1, Mitchell Starc 8-0-49-0, Clint McKay 9.4-1-53-3, Dan Christian 10-0-45-0, David Hussey 3-0-13-0, Xavier Doherty 9-0-51-2.
