Vadodara, Oct 25 (IANS) Australia’s four top-order batsmen struck half-centuries to set up a 293-run target for India in the first of their seven One-day international cricket match here Sunday.
Skipper Ricky Ponting decided to take first strike on a batting wicket and fast outfield and led the Australian charge, scoring 74 off 85 balls. Ponting and Tim Paine (50) added 97 runs for the second wicket after Shane Watson was dismissed by Ashish Nehra in the second over.

Cameron White (51) and Michael Hussey (73) held the innings in the middle overs, before the latter gave a late charge as Australia finished at 292 for eight.

The visitors would have crossed the 300-run target had it not been for the last over bowled by Ishant Sharma in which the medium-pacer gave just two runs and accounted for the wickets of Hussey and Brett lee.

Sharma (3-50), who had drawn flak for his lacklustre performance in the Champions Trophy, was the pick of the bowlers Sunday.

Ravindra Jadeja (1-39), fitting in the role of the fifth bowler, bowled a economical spell and contained the Australian batsmen in the middle overs.

In contrast, mainline off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (1-57) was far from convincing and got the stick.

Praveen Kumar, who was handed the new-ball, was disappointing and went for 77 runs in his quota of 10 overs. Kumar was wayward and lacked the pace to have any impact on the batsmen.

Nehra gave India the right start, trapping Shane Watson leg-before with a sharp incoming delivery.

It remained India’s only success till the 19th over as Ponting along with newcomer Paine laid a strong foundation. Ponting, who struck eight fours and two sixes, batted with authority and was not hesitant to play his strokes. Paine grew in confidence watching the veteran play some beautiful shots through the off-side. Australia cruised to 50-runs in 8.5 overs.

Paine was dismissed by Sharma immediately after he reached his career’s third half- century.

Ponting then added 49 runs with White, who took some time to adjust to the wicket. The Australian captain was well on course for a century when Jadeja reaped the reward of maintaining a good line, trapping him lbw.

Australia slowed down a bit after Ponting’s fall and when Nehra dismissed White, who added 56 runs with Hussey, it seemed the visitors would not near the six-run per over mark.

But Hussey led the assault in the final overs. He stroked eight fours and one six for his 54-ball 73 to lift the Australian total.