Captain MS Dhoni delivered India its first win over a Michael Clarke-led Australian side this summer with a last-gasp four-wicket win in yesterday's tri-series one-day international at Adelaide Oval.
Dhoni (44 not out) and India needed 12 runs off the final four balls - and remarkably got there with two to spare.
The ice-cool Indian skipper smashed the third ball of Australia paceman Clint McKay's last over for six. The shot high over wide long-on travelled a remarkable 112 metres.
Dhoni was caught on the mid-wicket boundary from the next ball - a chest-high full toss which was called a no-ball as the Indian leader ran two.
Dhoni then struck another three runs as India finished 6-270 in reply to Australia's 8-269.
''This six was very special,'' Dhoni said later. ''The World Cup [final] six was too but we could have done that with singles.''
Clarke said Australia didn't put enough runs on the board after winning the toss and batting on a good pitch.
''We were 10-20 short and the fielding was sloppy,'' he said.
Of more concern to the Australian selectors was the hamstring injury Clarke sustained while fielding late in the Indian innings. He will undergo scans today to determine the extent of the injury.
Paceman McKay claimed three key wickets in his initial six overs, which cost just 14 runs. But his final 2.4overs were wicketless and cost 32 runs as India cashed in on a fine knock from man of the match Gautam Gambhir (92).
After Australian batsmen David Hussey (72) and debutant Peter Forrest (66) laid the foundations for the home side's 8-269, opener Gambhir put India - minus resting star Sachin Tendulkar - within reach of its breakthrough win.
''Any runs in Australia is special,'' Gambhir said. ''Dhoni is a good finisher and he stays calm and that's important.''
The 30-year-old overcame the bizarre loss of his opening partner Virender Sehwag after the pair raced beyond 50 within nine overs.
Sehwag (20) went to whip McKay's first ball over leg-side fielders but played too early and somehow managed to spoon a catch with the back of his bat to backward point.
McKay struck again when Virat Kohli (18) skied to Forrest at deep cover, with Gambhir and Rohit Sharma (33) then produced a threatening 76-run partnership.
But after Sharma's dismissal, McKay delivered another blow to India by trapping Gambhir lbw in a marginal decision as replays showed much of the ball pitched outside leg stump.
Dhoni and all-rounder Suresh Raina (38 from 30 balls) staged a 61-run partnership, broken by spinner Xavier Doherty in the 47th over when he bowled Raina with the visitors needing another 31 runs to win.

















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