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Paceman Brett Lee took five wickets as Australia advanced to the final of the tri-series One-day International (ODI) tournament with an 18-run victory over India here at the Kinrara Oval on Friday.

Australia struggled with the bat, scoring 213 all out in 48.1 overs but their bowlers, led by Lee who claimed five for 38, fought back to dismiss India for 195.

“It was a terrific win for us and I’ve always thought that Brett is the best one-day bowler in the world,” Australian captain Rocky Ponting, who won the toss and chose to bat, told reporters. “With his pace and ability to put the ball where he wants to, any batsman is going to find it difficult.

“It was a really good, tight tussle right towards the end and Australia generally wins those kinds of contests,” Ponting added.

Brad Haddin (46) and Brad Hogg (38) had combined for a 77-run seventh-wicket stand to help Australia push their total above 200, which ultimately proved decisive. Only opener Matthew Hayden (54) was able to find his rhythm at the top of the order.

Dinesh Mongia hit an unbeaten 63 for India but found little support. “I think the whole batting order, starting with myself must stand up and be counted,” said India captain Rahul Dravid. “It was hard to stomach. These kinds of losses really hurt. We’ll take some positives but chasing 213 on a pretty easy wicket, we should have really won the match.”

Even Sachin Tendulkar, who top scored for India twice in this series, was unable to lift them out of their batting rut. He scored only four runs after initially surviving a caught-behind decision.

Haddin, looking increasingly like the man to take over from Adam Gilchrist as Australia’s first-choice wicket-keeper, smashed four sixes in his 63-ball knock of 46.

For Dravid and company, this tri-series was their last ODI assignment before the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy tournament, to be staged in India from October 7 to November 5.

The hosts will play their first game against England at Jaipur on October 15, followed by a clash against a qualifier team at Ahmedabad on October 26, before taking on the Aussies at Mohali on October 29.

Scoreboard

Australia won toss

Australia

M L Hayden run out (Singh/Dhoni) 54

S M Katich c Raina b Agarkar 9

*R T Ponting c Agarkar b Patel 4

D R Martyn run out (Tendulkar/Mongia) 19

A Symonds lbw b Mongia 2

M E K Hussey c Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 13

†B J Haddin c Dhoni b Singh 46

G B Hogg run out (Singh) 38

B Lee c Sehwag b Singh 7

S R Clark b Agarkar 2

G D McGrath not out 0

Extras (lb6, w9, nb4) 19

Total (all out, 48.1 overs) 213

Fall: 1-36, 2-49, 3-87, 4-97, 5-97, 6-117, 7-194, 8-208, 9-213

Bowling: Agarkar 8-0-44-2 (1nb, 5w); Patel 9-1-32-1 (1w); Singh 9.1-1-43-2 (1nb, 2w); Harbhajan Singh 10-2-24-1; Mongia 9-0-43-1 (1nb); Sehwag 3-0-21-0 (1nb)

India

V Sehwag b Lee 10

S R Tendulkar c Hussey b Lee 4

M Kaif c & b Clark 21

*R Dravid lbw b Clark 7

D Mongia not out 63

S K Raina b Hogg 26

†M S Dhoni c Martyn b Lee 23

A B Agarkar lbw b Hogg 9

Harbhajan Singh c Haddin b Symonds 0

R P Singh c Hussey b Lee 4

M M Patel c Symonds b Lee 1

Extras (lb7, w16, nb4) 27

Total (all out, 43.5 overs) 195

Fall: 1-7, 2-20, 3-47, 4-50, 5-96, 6-158, 7-185, 8-186, 9-193

Bowling: Lee 8.5-0-38-5 (1nb, 1w); McGrath 8-1-25-0 (4w); Clark 8-0-36-2 (2nb); Symonds 9-0-41-1 (1nb, 1w); Hogg 10-0-48-2 (2w)

Result: Australia won by 18 runs

Points: Australia 4, India 0

Man of the Match: Brett Lee

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and M R Benson (England). TV umpire: A L Hill (New Zealand). Match referee: B C Broad (England)

Next match: Sunday (tomorrow) Australia v West Indies, Kuala Lumpur (d/n)

Previous matches: September 12, Australia beat West Indies by 78 runs. September 14, West Indies beat India by 29 runs (D/L Method). September 16, Australia v India no result. September 18, West Indies beat Australia by 3 wickets. September 20, India beat West Indies by 16 runs. All matches at Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, and day/night fixtures

Tri-Series Team Standings

Team P W L NR Pts NRR

Australia 4 2 1 1 11 +0.553

West Indies 4 2 2 - 9 -0.305

India 4 1 2 1 6 -0.258

Final: Sunday (tomorrow), Australia v West Indies

Source:The News