Tendulkar's 13th One-Day International century and his record-breaking 175-run stand for the opening wicket with left-handed Saurav Ganguly (72: 9x4, 1x6) ensured that the home team reached their target of 223 with 5.3 overs to spare and also a place in the Triangular series final, to be played at the Kotla in Delhi on April 14.

The Australian bowling looked very ordinary as Tendulkar and Ganguly took the initiative away from them by going after the attack. With an asking rate of 4.46 (the Australians' strike rate at the end of theirinnings was 4.44), the flying start also made sure that the Australians were at the receiving end.

Each of Tendulkar's seven sixes -- a record against for India, surpassing the six sixes by Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe in the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England -- were sweetly timed and struck. Robertson (two), Moody (two), Lehman (two) and Shane Warne all got a taste of his batting prowess.

In fact, nothing went right for the Aussie bowlers. Fleming conceded 30 runs in his first spell of five overs. Kasprowicz was hammered for 14 in two overs. Off-spinner Robertson went for 15 in his first over and gave away 23 runs in his two overs. Tom Moody was punished for 36 in three overs and Lehman was struck for 28 in his four overs.

Tendulkar had two chances during his century knock. Soon after reaching 50, his drive off Moody went just over Bevan at mid-on and then Lehmann failed to latch on to a return catch.

Although Ganguly played second fiddle to Tendulkar, his role was by no means secondary in India'svictory. Some of his cover drives and square drives were copybook shots and left the Australian fielders rooted. On his part, he too struck Warne for a six and hit nine boundaries before chasing Kasprowicz to give Gilchrist a simple catch behind.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting (84) and Tom Moody (44) shared a stand of 77 in 18.5 overs to stage a recovery for Australia after Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to bat. India made an early breakthrough getting Mark Waugh caught behind off Prasad. With wickets falling at regular intervals, it was left to Ponting to give the total some respectability. He batted confidently and checked the bowlers' progress by taking singles whenever the opportunity came.

When Ponting and Moody were in the middle it seemed as though the Indians had lost the initiative. But some tight bowling by spinners Rahul Sanghvi and Hrishikesh Kanitkar and medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar later in the innings restricted the total.pKanitkar completely foxed both Bevan and skipper Steve Waugh with hisflight. Left-arm Sanghvi also bowled economically and succeeded in getting the wicket of Lehmann, who went back to cut, missed the line and was bowled.Agarkar, playing in only his third match, finished with his best bowling figures of four for 46 from 10 overs, three of them in his second spell, to finish off the Australian innings.

India now move to Cuttack for their next encounter against Zimbabwe on April 9 while the Australians move to Delhi for their last league match against Zimbabwe on April 11.

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