India win one-off T-20 against Aussies

RAJKOT: A blazing innings from short-form specialist Aaron Finch was not enough to deliver Australia victory in the opening match of their limited overs tour of India.

Instead it was a stunning effort from India's comeback kid Yuvraj Singh which allowed the home side to win the one-off T20 game, chasing down Australia's target of 202 with two balls to spare.

Yuvraj Singh during the 2011 World Cup. He has made a triumphant return from cancer treatment.

Yuvraj Singh during the 2011 World Cup. He has made a triumphant return from cancer treatment.

But if not for one crucial moment falling in India's favour, Australian captain George Bailey felt his side would've finished in front.

Singh only offered one chance in his unbeaten match-winning 77, which powered India to a six-wicket victory.

With Clint McKay bowling, Singh flicked a length delivery of his pads and seemingly over the fence for one of his five sixes in the outstanding 35-ball innings. Shane Watson, fielding on the deep square leg boundary, spectacularly fielded the ball over the rope and attempted to acrobatically fling it in the air to regather in the field of play. But he was unable to plant his feet inside the rope before regathering the ball.

Earlier, after being sent in, Australia posted 7-201 on the back of an excellent 89 from Finch, who was ably supported with cameos from Glenn Maxwell (27 off 13) and debutant Nic Maddinson (34 off 16).

Just as he did with his world record 156 against England in August, Finch combined the brutal with the unorthodox to send India's attack to all parts of the boundary.

Ultimately his 14 fours and one six pieced itself together as a composed knock of 89 as Australia passed 200 for just the sixth time in T20s.

It took a spectacular caught-and-bowled from Vinay Kumar (3-25) to halt the powerful right-hander.

For Australia, the seventh ranked T20 nation, the loss was the seventh from the past eight matches.

The feeling of letting a victory slip away would be amplified by the fact they had India at 4-100. That was when skipper MS Dhoni (24no) arrived at the crease, with his unbeaten 102 run partnership with Singh sealing Australia's fate.

The teams now prepare for seven one-day matches.