Australia edge to Indian victory
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- World champions Australia fielded brilliantly to record a tense 18-run victory over India in their tri-series one-day match on Friday despite a brave innings of 82 from opposing captain Saurav Ganguly.
Michael Clarke took four catches and one for 22 after guiding the hosts to 288 all out in 48.3 overs with a quickfire 63.
India scored 270 in 49.0 overs in reply after Sachin Tendulkar clipped 63 from 69 balls to give the tourists a flying start.
Australia had been set for an even bigger score but were kept below 300 after a six-wicket haul from India's Ajit Agarkar.
Clarke shared a century partnership with man-of-the-match Andrew Symonds, who made 88 and took two for 47.
Tendulkar, who hit eight fours, and Virender Sehwag (35) put on 103 for India's first wicket in 18.2 overs.
Tendulkar's dismissal at 134 for two in the 26th over, after Australia captain Ricky Ponting pulled in a spectacular one-handed catch at midwicket off the bowling of Symonds, was a big blow for India's hopes of victory.
Ganguly was left to anchor the innings after Vangipurappu Laxman (16), Rahul Dravid (16) and Yuvraj Singh (25) could not push to big scores before a capacity crowd of 63,271 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, where India flags almost outnumbered the local variety.
Australia host Zimbabwe at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday in the second match of the triangular series.
Ponting said he was conscious of the need for Australia to improve their fielding.
"We talked about it a fair bit coming into the game," he said. "There was a noticeable improvement tonight. We still put a couple down and probably had a few other half-chances we didn't take."
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