An Australian bowling attack composed largely of reservists was brutally disposed of as India ran down a tall target in the second limited overs match at Vizag.
Acting captain Michael Clarke (111no, 138 balls) located his previously misplaced touch and Cameron White (89, 49) blazed at the finish to help Australia 3-289.
But this was rendered inadequate by the poise of Virat Kohli (118, 121 balls), the experience of Yuvraj Singh (58) and the energy of Suresh Raina (71no, 47 balls), who combined to reach victory with five wickets and seven balls to spare.
Though Victorian quicks Clint McKay (3-55) and John Hastings (2-46) acquitted themselves decently, there was heavy punishment for others, as the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Tait and Ryan Harris were sorely missed.
This was a pity for Clarke, who showed good sense and organisation to help the tourists shrug off the loss of two early wickets.
“I think we do take a lot out of this match,” said Clarke.
“Obviously we wanted to win the game, but I thought Mike Hussey and Cameron White played really well, and I thought John Hastings … on debut bowled really well.
“I thought 290 was a pretty good score on that wicket.
“The wicket probably quickened up throughout the game and was probably better to bat on in the second half of the game.”
Mike Hussey (69, 78 balls) was an able offsider for Clarke before White offered his considerable muscle as 84 runs were heaped from the final five overs.
Leading an extremely young attack, McKay made the ideal start by nipping one between the bat and pad of Indian debutant Shikhar Dhawan for a second-ball duck, and followed up by extracting a nick from Murali Vijay (15).
Yuvraj and Kohli added a brisk 137 to keep the target in sight, before McKay returned to confound the elder batsman with a slower ball.
Kohli and Raina set about the remainder of the target with relish, taking a toll on bowlers both old (James Hopes 56 runs from seven overs) and new (Steve Smith 0-23 from three).
Hastings showed a fighter’s instinct by cutting one back to bowl MS Dhoni in the same over he had Kohli taken at long on, but India had enough batting left to scamper home.
The problem of setting a competitive target had always hovered from the moment Hussey joined Clarke at 2-16.
Eventually it was Hussey who tired first in the humid air, lbw when he missed a swat at the off breaks of his Chennai Super Kings teammate Ravichandran Ashwin.
White was soon into stride, giving himself room to thud Nehra past cover to the boundary, and putting a John Daly-like swing on one straight six off Vinay Kumar.
Having shown more poise than power during his stay, Clarke then joined in to clatter boundaries straight and through cover, then passing three figures with a flick to midwicket.
Australia had surprised by leaving out the young batsmen Dave Warner and Callum Ferguson in addition to Bollinger following his muscle strain.
The selectors instead gave debuts to the NSW left-armer Mitchell Starc and Hastings.
whiteline
Guest
The reason so many players are from NSW is pretty simple... 1. They have the most people 2. They have a strong grade cricket system because they don't have too many clubs based on population (like Perth for example) and therefore the standard is better. D. Hookes was lucky to play 23 tests. One century against the then minnow Sri Lanka wouldn't have cut it in many eras, let alone today.
Fisher Price
Guest
It's called domestic cricket.
Bayman
Guest
Terry, Top score (first class) of 93 and a best bowling of 5/61. Last year's Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year. Only 24 (though soon to be 25) and from Victoria. However, his sudden elevation to Australian ranks may be because, as David Hookes once famously suggested, his early cricket, U17, U19 etc, was spent representing New South Wales.
Hooplah
Guest
I will be available to play the Melbourne matches. All rounder too, willing to open the batting and the bowling!
Terry Kidd
Guest
Who the hell is J Hastings? Where the hell did he come from? What performances has he delivered to be handed an Australian shirt? Gee, you must be able to be selected to play international cricket from a corn flakes packet these days !!!
Fisher Price
Guest
Ouch.
Lolly
Guest
I'm getting used to the Aussies losing matches/series. It must have been a very flat pitch after the first few overs. Even Clarke had an sr of nearly 80.