The 5 Best ODI wins for India versus Australia in Australia

#1 Commonwealth Bank Series, Second Final, Brisbane 2008

India's first trophy in Australia in a triangular series

India won the first final at Sydney, courtesy of Sachin Tendulkar’s first ODI century in Australia. The Indians were confident going into the second of the best of three finals.

Dhoni won an important toss for India. The Indian openers Sachin and Uthappa once again gave an excellent start for India reaching 90 for no loss in 20 overs. Sachin started from where he left off at Sydney reaching his 50 off 70 balls with 5 fours. Sachin added 54 runs for the third wicket with Yuvraj Singh.

Sachin was all set to reach his second ODI century in Australia before his uppish drive off Michael Clarke was held by Ponting at mid-wicket. Sachin went for 91. With some lusty blows from Dhoni, in the end, India reached a competitive score of 258.

Praveen Kumar made India’s score to look like 300 when he took three quick wickets. Adam Gilchrist, playing his last match for Australia, was caught behind in the first over. In his second over, Kumar got his second wicket, that of Ricky Ponting when he skied a catch to Yuvraj at mid-on. In the fourth over of the innings bowled by Sreesanth, Mathew Hayden was dropped by Dhoni.

In his fifth over, Praveen Kumar cleaned up Michale Clarke and Australia was reeling at 32 for 3. Their only hope was Mathew Hayden. But he too was struggling after the loss of so many wickets at the other end. Hayden found a willing partner in Andrew Symonds and these two added 89 for the fourth wicket.

Australia reached their 100 in the 23rd over. Hayden duly completed his 50 off 67 balls. Symonds greeted Piyush Chawla to the wicket with a big six over long-on. When it looked like Hayden and Symonds would take Australia through, India got lucky as Hayden ran himself out at the non-striker's end. Two balls later, Harbhajan trapped Symonds in front and India were back in the game. Australia slipped to 123 for 5.

Australia needed 76 in the last 10 overs with Mike Hussey and James Hopes at the wicket. In the 42nd over of the innings, Sreesanth gave a crucial breakthrough for India with the scalp of the dangerous looking Mike Hussey. But James Hopes was batting beautifully at the other end and he was the only hope for Australia to take the series into the third final.

Hopes brought down the required run rate easing off 2 consecutive fours in the 45th over bowled by Praveen Kumar. Now Australia needed 36 in 5 overs, not impossible with James Hopes at the wicket. Harbhajan bowled the 46th over and gave away only 3 runs. Praveen Kumar too gave away 3 runs in the 47th over and got the wicket of Brett Lee.

30 needed off 3 overs with 3 wickets in hand. Harbhajan gave away 8 runs in the 48th over. Sreesanth started the 49th over beautifully conceding just 2 runs off four balls and removing Mitchell Johnson in the interim.

20 needed off 8 balls. That was when Sreesanth decided to test Hopes with a short ball which sailed over long-on for a six. Hopes got a single off the last ball and retained strike.

Now 13 needed off 6 balls. Irfan Pathan bowled the last over for India with Hopes on strike. Irfan conceded a single off the first ball and kept Hopes off the strike. Nathan Bracken got out to the next ball but the batsmen crossed over. After scoring a couple of the third ball, Hopes had to go for it of the fourth ball as 10 were needed off 3 balls. However, he could not clear the in-field and gave Chawla a simple catch. India won the match by 9 runs.

It was India’s first trophy win in a triangular series in Australia.