Australia thrash India

Brisbane - A dominant Australia cruised to a 110-run win over India in their one-day international tri-series match here on Sunday.

After blasting 288 for five in their innings, the Australians ripped through the Indian top order to leave the visitors in disarray at 36 for four.

India struggled on but were never in the hunt, finishing all out for 178, skipper M.S. Dhoni playing a lone hand with the bat, scoring 56 off 84 deliveries.

Man of the match Ben Hilfenhaus was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 5-33, while veteran Brett Lee continued his resurgence with 3-49.

After Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat, the Australians recovered from a slow start to overwhelm the Indian attack with some powerful hitting over the final 20 overs.

Veteran Mike Hussey top scored with 59 and combined with newcomer Peter Forrest (52) in a fifth wicket partnership of 100 from 92 balls, while David Hussey (26) and Daniel Christian (30) smashed 65 runs from the last six overs against a demoralised attack.

Left arm medium pacer Irfan Pathan with 3-61 was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming both Hussey and Forrest as well as the dangerous David Warner, who made 43 at the top of the order.

But there was troubling news for the visitors when Sachin Tendulkar was forced from the field at the end of the 25th over after he was struck a painful blow on the left shin while fielding at first slip.

Tendulkar, who is still searching for his elusive 100th international century, came out to open with Gautam Gambhir but his run of poor form continued when he tried an upper-cut off Hilfenhaus only to be caught at deep third man by Xavier Doherty for three.

Gambhir had earlier fallen in the second over when he edged a fired-up Brett Lee to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade as India's run chase got off to the worst possible start.

Lee and Wade combined soon after to dismiss Rohit Sharma for a duck before Virat Kohli fell in controversial circumstances when he was caught at first slip by David Hussey off Hilfenhaus.

The combative Kohli refused to walk until third umpire Bruce Oxenford confirmed the ball had carried, which he did despite replays appearing to indicate there was some doubt.

The Indians tried to recover but lost wickets at key moments and were unable to boost the run rate enough to stay in touch with the asking rate.

Earlier powerful Australian opener Warner got the home team off to a good start as he raced to 43 runs off 46 balls.

However Wade and Ponting found it hard to keep the run rate going after Warner was dismissed. Ponting in particular never looked comfortable, battling to seven from 26 deliveries before skying an attempted hook shot off Zaheer Khan to Pathan at deep square leg.

But Hussey and Forrest took control during the middle of the innings. The 36-year-old Hussey was in great form as he dominated the partnership, bringing up his 50 off 45 balls and scoring his 5000th run in one-day internationals.

Forrest celebrated his 50 soon after, the Queenslander's second in three matches for Australia.

David Hussey (26) and Daniel Christian (30) led an assault on the Indian bowling over the last six overs, smashing 65 runs from 34 balls to leave India with a big chase.

Match scores: Australia 288-5 (50 overs): India 178 (43.3 overs)