Guwahati: Riding on a five-wicket haul by Doug Bollinger, Australia crushed India by six wickets to to take take an unassailable 4-2 lead in the seven-match ODI series at Guwahati on Sunday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, India were off to a horrendous start as they lost their five top order batsmen for just 27 runs, but the home side recovered through half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja (57) and Praveen Kumar (54 not out) to reach 170 all out.
Chasing 171 for victory, Watson smashed a run-a-ball 49 and Michael Hussey made a steady unbeaten 35 as Australia achieved the target with 8.1 overs to spare
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It marks India's first defeat in a bilateral series since their 4-2 loss to Australia in 2007-08.
Dhoni's gamble to bat first on a wicket that offered generous movements backfired as India suffered a top order batting collapse.
Johnson provided early breakthroughs by bowling Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in his first over with the new ball and snared Suresh Raina later in his first spell.
Then, it was turn of Bollinger, he ripped through the Indian batting order removing Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni, Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh, as the home team were bundled out for 170 in 48 overs
For Australia, Johnson chipped in with three wickets, conceding 39 runs, while Shane Watson took two Indian wickets for 27 runs.
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Top10 (R/W)Bollinger was adjudged as the man of the match.
The last match of the series will be played in Mumbai on Wednesday.
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