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India secure Tri-Series victory

India ended a tumultuous tour with a dramatic, Sachin Tendulkar-inspired 2-0 limited-overs finals series win over World Cup champions Australia.

Tendulkar posted 91 in India's 258 for nine after winning the toss and batting, following his match-winning 117-not-out in Sydney.

Praveen Kumar took 4-46, including Adam Gilchrist (2) and Ricky Ponting (1) to have Australia reeling at 8-2 before the hosts forced it into the last over.

Irfan Pathan sealed the nine-run win, removing Nathan Bracken (1) and ending James Hopes' defiant 63-run knock in four balls as Australia were bowled out for 249 in 49.4 overs.

India dominated in stages and took wickets in batches to stem Australia's momentum.

Harbhajan Singh removed both Matthew Hayden (55) and Andrew Symonds (42) within a few balls to end an innings-salvaging fourth-wicket partnership, leaving just too much for Hopes and the tailenders.

Hopes hit a six in the penultimate over, leaving Australia needing 14 runs from six balls to level the series and force a third-match in Adelaide.

But Pathan held his nerve, taking his first wickets of the finals series to spark Indian jubilation after a long tour that included a Test-series loss to Australia and the Tri-Series that also involved Sri Lanka.

The late finishing cricket season seemed to have the Australians confused, with Michael Clarke tackling Tendulkar to the ground as he tried to field a ball during India's innings and Symonds clobbering a nude streaker with a shoulder charge.

Gilchrist's last international match ended disappointingly when he feathered Kumar to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on the third ball.

Skipper Ponting mistimed a pull shot off the same bowler to mid-on two overs later to end his frustrating summer and have Australia reeling at 8-2.

Clarke survived a confident appeal for leg-before-wicket (LBW) next ball and Hayden was dropped when he edged Sreesanth and Dhoni put down a chance as he dived in front of first slip and deflected a ball onto the point of Tendulkar's shoulder.

Tendulkar left the field immediately and did not return.

Kumar got some revenge when he bowled Clarke for 17 in the ninth over to have Australia in trouble at 32-3.

Symonds and Hayden restored the innings with an 89-run partnership before both were out in the space of four balls.

Hayden was run out for 55 at the non-striker's end after mix-up when Symonds prodded forward and looked to take a single.

Harbhajan trapped Symonds LBW and Australia slipped from 121-3 to 123-5.

Mike Hussey (44) and Hopes put on 76 for the sixth wicket to lift the total to 199 in the 42nd over before Hussey got a feint under edge to Sreesanth and was caught behind.

"All credit has to go the Indians for the way they played over the last week -- they deserve the trophy," said Ponting, who put down a difficult chance when Tendulkar was on 7.

Tendulkar shared a 94-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa (30) and a 54-run partnership for the third wicket with Yuvraj Singh.

Also see: Andrew Symonds bowls streaker over
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