Dhoni Stars India's 99-run victory over Australia

A quickfire century by Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni set up India's 99-run victory over Australia on Wednesday as the home team leveled the one-day series 1-1.

MS Dhoni hit 124 runs off just 107 balls, putting on 119 for the 4th wicket partnership with Gautam Gambhir (76) and 136 for the 5th wicket with Suresh Raina (62) to push India to 354 /7 after they lost the toss in the day-night game.

After India amassed their highest ODI total against Australia, pacer Praveen Kumar took two early wickets including Captain Ricky Ponting for 12, to help India bowl out the visitors for 255 in 48.3 overs.

Michael Hussey (53) scored his 2nd consecutive half-century for Australia but young left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took 3 for 35 to trigger a middle-order fall down and fast bowler Ishant Sharma claimed 2 for 37.

"We lost Sachin Tendulkar early but Virender Sehwag (40) and Gambhir gave us the start we needed," said Dhoni referring to a second-wicket partnership of 46.

"They set the platform for me and I was able to play my own innings," he said at the prize-giving service.

Gambhir struck his 2nd consecutive half-century as he and MS Dhoni turned the heat on an Australia attack weakened by the absence of injured pair Brett Lee and James Hopes.

Gambhir was run out by a direct hit at the bowler end after being sent back by Dhoni but the Captain and Raina tear into the bowling, smashing 108 runs in the final 10 overs.

Dhoni cracked 9 fours and 3 sixes and reached his fifth one-day international century with a straight six off medium-pacer Shane Watson before falling in the final over to Mitchell Johnson (3-75).

Praveen Kumar then clean bowled Australia opener Tim Paine for (8) before Sharma forced Watson (19) to edge to Tendulkar at the 1st slip with his 1st delivery.

Ponting was trapped lbw in the 11th over before Hussey bogus useful partnerships with Cameron White (23) and Adam Voges (36).

Jadeja, though, dismissed Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh (21) and Voges to end Australia's chances.

"Full credit to India, they outplayed us in every aspect of the game tonight," said Ponting.

"It was always going to be a hard run-chase."

The 3rd game of the 7 match ODI series will be in New Delhi on Saturday.

Man of the match : MS Dhoni

Hopes ruled out, Lee and Johnson are doubtful for the 2nd ODI

Australian all-rounder James Hopes will miss the 2nd ODI against India, while the pace pair of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson are doubtful for the 2nd ODI.

The first ODI at Vododara took a toll on the Australian team with James Hopes suffering a right hamstring strain, Brett Lee complaining of right elbow soreness and Mitchell Johnson complaining of a left ankle problem.

"James Hopes, Lee and Johnson all undergo scans in Baroda this morning," Australian team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said.

"James has suffered a negligible right hamstring strain. He will therefore be unavailable for the next game however is expected to be available for the later games of this Hero Honda series."

"Brett Lee has a mild right elbow strain and will continue to be treated and assessed prior to the next game," he said.

"Mitchell Johnson suffered an inversion strain of his left ankle," Sims added after Johnson was forced from the field to have action during the game.

"He will now receive treatment and as with Brett, it will depend on how he responds to treatment over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability for the second game of the series," Sims mentioned.

Australia won the 1st match of the 7-ODI series in India

Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh's batting heroics took India agonisingly close to a sensational win before the hosts slumped to a 4 runs defeat against Australia in the 1st match of the 7-ODI series.

At 201 for seven in their pursuit of a 293-run victory target, India seemed heading for a comprehensive defeat before Praveen (40 not out) and Harbhajan (49) came up with a defiant 84-run stand off 57 balls for the eighth wicket that nearly took them home.

Much to the disappointment of the crowd, India eventually managed 288 for eight, put together by cameos from Gautam Gambhir (68), Virat Kohli (30), MS Dhoni (34), Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting (74) led from the front and was amply supported by Mike Hussey (73), Tim Paine (50) and Cameron White (51) as the visitors rattled up 292 for eight after opting to bat first on a featherbed track.

Faced with the daunting task of scoring at 5.86 per over, the star-studded Indian line-up came a cropper against some disciplined bowling and tight fielding to be left struggling at 201 for seven with the last 10 overs remaining.

Harbhajan and Praveen brought down the target to 30 from the last 15 balls and then nine from the last six.

But once Harbhajan departed off the second ball of the final over from Peter Siddle, India lost the momentum and Australia stopped the hosts four runs short of their total.