Australia beat India in thriller

Australia beat India by 3 runs to take a 3-2 series lead in an absolute thriller at Hyderabad.

Sachin Tendulkar's superb 175 seemed to have given India the platform to successfully chase down the Aussies 350 but a late collapse saw the visitors hold on.

Shaun Marsh's 112, his maiden ODI century, as well as Shane Watson 93 and Cameron White 56 helped Australia to the impressive total.

The score seemed like a match winning one but on a superb batting track openers Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag made it look achievable.

Tendulkar who during his innings passed 17,000 career ODI runs, scored his 45th career ODI century but got out at key time with 19 runs still needed.

A 5th wicket partnership of 137 between Tendulkar and Suresh Reina put India firmly in the driving seat but once Reina went they lost their last six wickets for 48 runs.

Australia, who won the toss, made a great start and found themselves on 97/0 after the first fifteen overs.

Watson and Marsh put on an opening stand of 145 before Watson was caught by Jadeja off the bowling of Harbhajan in the 26th over.

Captain Ricky Ponting scored a run a ball 45 before Marsh brought up his century off 104 balls.

With wickets in hand the Aussies had the freedom to go after the Indian bowlers in the latter overs and managed a very impressive 105 from the last ten overs, which included the batting powerplay.

Cameron White hit five sixes in his 57 from 33 balls before holing out on the last ball of the innings.

With a required run-rate of 7 needed, the Indian openers needed to give the team a platform to work from.

The explosive batsmen took advantage of the fielding restrictions and the first eight overs saw 62 runs scored.

Hilfenhaus got the breakthrough though with Sehwag caught by Bollinger for 38.

Sehwag, was had earlier been dropped by the same fielder, attempted a pull but caught the ball high on his bat, with Bollinger taking a superb catch over his shoulder.

With Australia suffering a number of injuries in their bowling department including Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Moises Henriques they included debutant Clint McKay in their line-up.

McKay, who impressed during the recent Champions Leauge Twenty20, did not have to wait long for his first wicket as he had Gautam Gambhir caught at third man by Hilfenhaus in his third over.

After the first 15 overs India moved onto 101/2 with Tendulkar bringing up his half-century from 47 balls.

With Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni both falling for single figures, 351 now seemed a long way off.

Tendulkar and Reina's stand though put them well and truly in the driving seat with 52 runs required from 48 balls and the batting powerplay still to come.

With India now firm favourites, captain Ricky Ponting turned to Shane Watson to try and get the breakthrough.

Watson well and truly repaid Ponting's faith, picking up two wickets in four balls.

First he forced Reina into top edging a pull shot before Harbhajan edged behind for a second ball duck.

With 19 runs required from 18 balls, McKay picked up his third wicket of the match with the precious scalp of Tendulkar.

The little master attempted a paddle sweep , a shot that had worked a number of times during the match for him, but this time went straight to Hauritz at fine-leg.

With the key man gone, the pressure got to them with Jadeja needlessly run-out and Ashish Nehra out for one.

With one wicket remaining India required 16 runs from 11 balls and once Praveen Kumar struck a magnificent six, it was back down to a run a ball.

Two singles from the rest of the over, saw eight needed from the final six balls.

With singles scored from the first three balls, Kumar took a chance going for a second but Hauritz's superb throw under pressure saw him fall agonisingly close.