Taking charge ... MS Dhoni.
INDIA finally had reason to cheer last night, defeating a Michael Clarke-led side for the first time this summer, but Australia could yet emerge the big winner after the debut of batsman Peter Forrest.
Chasing Australia's challenging but far from daunting 8-269, the tourists claimed victory with two balls remaining after a stunning last over bowled by Clint McKay.
Run saver … Australian all-rounder Daniel Christian fields from his own bowling in yesterday's match against India.
Needing 13 to win off the final over, Ravi Ashwin nudged a single off the second ball before skipper M.S Dhoni took over.
He blasted an enormous 112m six over long-on off the third delivery and was then sensationally caught at deep square leg the next ball - only for Australia to realise McKay had been called for a no-ball. Dhoni ended the contest next ball with a three. ''The timing was perfect; we needed it,'' Dhoni said of his astonishing six.
For Australia, the defeat was compounded by a hamstring injury to Michael Clarke. The captain was hurt in the field and briefly had treatment in the dressing room. However, he did return for the final six overs but was hampered, shown when he missed a late run-out of Dhoni.
Swing for the cheap seats ... squad bolter Peter Forrest smashed 66 on debut, including two big sixes.
India, helped by Australia's poor ground fielding, had every chance to conjure victory but Australian spinner Xavier Doherty was calm in a crisis. He deceived a threatening Suresh Raina and in the penultimate over had Ravindra Jadeja caught at long-on by Ricky Ponting.
Australia looked in control but Dhoni, as he has done on several occasions in the 50-overs game, took over. Gautam Gambhir had earlier appeared to be the bedrock of an Indian victory. Like most of his teammates, the pugnacious opener dropped confidence as the tour unfolded. He was particularly troubled by the short ball but conditions were to his liking yesterday.
There was little, if any, bounce to contend with, and Gambhir was able to push the ball around at will. He looked set to post just the second international century of India's tour when he fell lbw to Clint McKay.
Had the tourists allowed the Decision Review System to be used, Gambhir would almost certainly have been recalled. Instead, he dejectedly trudged from the field, realising his team's hopes were on a knife-edge.
Gambhir had earlier shared in half-century stands with Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma. Danger-man Sehwag threatened with three boundaries but his miserable tour continued when, instead of gliding a McKay delivery to leg, he was caught at point off a leading edge.
Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina deserved a stern lecture from coach Duncan Fletcher after they were guilty of undisciplined strokes. Kohli was caught at deep cover needlessly hitting out, while Sharma, his patience wearing thin, looked to loft Ryan Harris over mid-on but succeeded in only providing a leading edge to Mitchell Starc at mid off.
Australia has work to do this week, particularly on ground fielding. The hosts have improved in this area over summer, as prescribed in the Argus report, but there were too many fumbles that led to easy singles for the tourists and inaccurate throws. Ryan Harris twice could have sparked a run-out had his throwing and decision making been better. ''We were very sloppy,'' Clarke said. ''Our fielding let us down, for sure.''
Forrest has been touted by the national selectors as a player of the future, but his calm demeanour and crisp stroke play in compiling a fluent 66 means his time may already have arrived. Forrest would finish with five boundaries and a pair of sixes - both over long-off.
Former Australian batsman Greg Blewett, who would have presented Forrest with his cap had he not been delayed, believes the 26-year-old is more suited to the longer format and has the potential to bat at No. 3 in the Test side.
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