NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh (78) and skipper MS Dhoni (71*) put-on a valuable 148-run partnership for the fourth wicket to guide India to a 6-wicket victory over Australia in the third ODI at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Chasing a modest 230-run target to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match One-Day International series on a tricky pitch, India lost Sehwag (11), Tendulkar (32) and Gambhir (6) in quick succession, leaving the hosts at 53/3 after 15.2 overs. But the pair of captain Dhoni and his deputy made sure that the target remained within reach all the time for the hosts. India lost Yuvraj in the 44th over for 78 after reaching 200-run mark. Earlier, India contained Australia to 229 for five despite Michael Hussey's rollicking unbeaten 81 and Ricky Ponting's fighting half century on Saturday. Electing to bat after winning the toss, Aussies found the runs difficult to come by on a slow Feroz Shah Kotla track. Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting (59) relied on their experience to score the bulk of the runs for the visitors. While Shane Watson (41) also chipped in with a useful contribution, none of the other Australian batsmen could hang around for long on a pitch which was not conducive for stroke-play. Ponting, opening the innings for only the second time in his career, and Shane Watson provided a solid start to the innings with both the batsmen playing cautiously on the slow track.

It would sure pay to be a travel agent for Cricket Australia at the moment. Three days after having to send Moises Henriques to India as injury cover, wicketkeeper Graham Manou is the latest to receive an abrupt call-up to join the national team at CA's expense.

The 30-year-old, whose international career consists of a single Test match against England three months ago, flew out of Sydney yesterday evening to replace fellow gloveman Tim Paine, who was to fly home home for surgery on what Australian captain Ricky Ponting said was a ''badly broken'' ring-finger on his right hand during the team's series-levelling loss to India on Wednesday night.

Paine broke the finger in the eighth over of India's record innings of 7-354, trying to glove a Peter Siddle bouncer well above his head. The Tasmanian received treatment at the end of that over and while he kept for the rest of the innings - taking two catches and effecting a run-out - he required treatment at least twice more during India's innings just to be able to keep going.

Paine also still kept his place at the top of the batting order alongside Shane Watson, although he was bowled for eight in the fifth over. Australia's fortunes were not much better than Paine's, with the visitors bowled out for 255 in the 49th over to hand India the resounding 99-run win, which levelled the seven-match series at one-all. Manou had been due to captain South Australia in its Sheffield Shield match starting today against Victoria until his call-up.

Ponting stood by his decision to send India in to bat after he'd won the toss at the batsmen-friendly Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur in match two, insisting he had been swayed by the absences of key bowlers Brett Lee (ankle) and James Hopes (hamstring).

''Our balance has been thrown out a bit. With Hopes going out of the side, Brett [Lee], our most-experienced bowler, out of the side our batting was our strongest suit … so chasing runs I thought was going to suit the make-up of our side,'' Ponting said. ''All the reasoning behind winning the toss and bowling was there. We just didn't play well enough to back that up today.''

The return of Ben Hilfenhaus to the side after spending 13 of Australia's previous 14 matches as an unused squad member was not a successful one, smashed for 1-83 from his 10 overs. Ponting said the Tasmanian was deservedly picked ahead of Doug Bollinger, despite the NSW left-arm paceman having played more recently than Hilfenhaus - and in India, in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

IT WOULD sure pay to be a travel agent for Cricket Australia at the moment. Three days after having to send Moises Henriques to India as injury cover, wicketkeeper Graham Manou is the latest to receive an abrupt call-up to join the national team at CA's expense.

The 30-year-old, whose international career consists of a single Test match against England three months ago, flew out of Sydney yesterday evening to replace fellow gloveman Tim Paine, who was to fly home home for surgery on what Australian captain Ricky Ponting said was a ''badly broken'' ring-finger on his right hand during the team's series-levelling loss to India on Wednesday night.

Paine broke the finger in the eighth over of India's record innings of 7-354, trying to glove a Peter Siddle bouncer well above his head. The Tasmanian received treatment at the end of that over and while he kept for the rest of the innings - taking two catches and effecting a run-out - he required treatment at least twice more during India's innings just to be able to keep going.

Paine also still kept his place at the top of the batting order alongside Shane Watson, although he was bowled for eight in the fifth over. Australia's fortunes were not much better than Paine's, with the visitors bowled out for 255 in the 49th over to hand India the resounding 99-run win, which levelled the seven-match series at one-all. Manou had been due to captain South Australia in its Sheffield Shield match starting today against Victoria until his call-up.

Ponting stood by his decision to send India in to bat after he'd won the toss at the batsmen-friendly Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur in match two, insisting he had been swayed by the absences of key bowlers Brett Lee (ankle) and James Hopes (hamstring).

''Our balance has been thrown out a bit. With Hopes going out of the side, Brett [Lee], our most-experienced bowler, out of the side our batting was our strongest suit … so chasing runs I thought was going to suit the make-up of our side,'' Ponting said. ''All the reasoning behind winning the toss and bowling was there. We just didn't play well enough to back that up today.''

The return of Ben Hilfenhaus to the side after spending 13 of Australia's previous 14 matches as an unused squad member was not a successful one, smashed for 1-83 from his 10 overs. Ponting said the Tasmanian was deservedly picked ahead of Doug Bollinger, despite the NSW left-arm paceman having played more recently than Hilfenhaus - and in India, in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

INDIA wins 2nd odi

was a much awaiting day for cricket-crazy Indians to see India winning over World champion Australia in the 2nd ODI, at Vidharbha Cricket Association sports ground, Nagpur, on 29th October. The victory came under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni who made a brilliant century with 3 sixes & 9 boundaries.

Australia let India to bat first after winning the toss. India scored a mammoth total of 354 runs at the loss of 7 wickets. Australia was all out for 255.

Indian batsmen dominated over Australian bowler throughout the game. Sehwag made 40 off 31 balls. Gautam Gambhir gave him full support and made half-century. He scored 76 from 80 balls, but failed badly to convert it into a century. Suresh Raina made a score of 62 from 50 balls.

It was the pathetic Australian bowling that pave the way for Indian victory. Australian bowlers gave lots of extras that helped India score a big total.

Australia lost first wicket at the 5th over of their innings when P Kumar stumped off Tim Paine. Ricky Pontingwas got struck exact in front of the stumps by Kumar.

Several records were made in this match. 354 is the maximum score for India against Australian cricket team in ODIs. The score of 124 runs made by Captain Dhoni is also the maximum score made by a captain of cricket team against the World champions.