India 'A' gained psychological advantage ahead of the final after beating Australia 'A' by three wickets in an inconsequential last league match of the ODI tri-series in Chennai on Wednesday.
The home team overhauled the Australians' target of 272 with four overs to spare, under overcast conditions, largely due to some useful partnerships in the middle overs.
In what was considered a dress rehearsal of the final, scheduled for Friday after both teams recorded big wins over New Zealand 'A' to seal a place in the title clash, India 'A' restricted Australia to 272 for 6.
The Aussies' total was largely due to a fine half century from David Hussey (74) and good scores from the middle order.
There were no big innings from any Indian batsmen except Rohit Sharma's half century (51, 58 balls, 4x4, 1x6), but the top and middle order stitched together useful partnerships. butions to win rather comfortably.
The Indians' chase started badly as Robin Uthappa (7) failed again. The other opener, Jayadev Shah, contributed 26 (28 balls, 4x4) while Ravi Teja scored 33 (40 balls, 6x4).
Stand-in skipper Suresh Raina's cameo knock of 46 (47 balls, 4x4, 2x6), Yusuf Pathan's breezy 36 (32 balls, 2x4, 2x6) and 25-apiece from Wriddihiman Saha and Piyush Chawla ensured victory despite India losing wickets at regular intervals.
At one stage India 'A' were 187 for five in 33.5 overs. Then at the score of 214, they lost another wicket, but Saha and Chawla played sensibly and ensured that there were no further jitters.
Electing to bat first, the Aussies lost Adam Voges (5) early, but other opener, Marcus North, (40 off 52 balls), and David Hussey (74 off 67 balls) combined well to add 96 runs for the second wicket in 16.1 overs.
Thereafter the middle order batsmen all got starts but failed to build on them. Skipper Cameron White chipped in with 30 off 46 balls, George Baily contributed 36 off 46 balls, and Phillip Hughes remained unbeaten on 49 off 58 balls.
Ashley Noffke, who blasted 33 in just 19 balls, provided the final thrust to help the team past the 250-mark.
For India 'A' medium pacer Praveen Kumar and leg spinner Piyush Chawla claimed two wickets each.
Scorecard
Australia 'A':
Marcus J North lbw Chawla 40
Adam Voges c Raina b Kumar 5
David Hussey b Yusuf Pathan 74
Cameron White c Saha b Sharma 30
Gorge Bailey c Kulkarni b Kumar 36
Phillip Hughes not out 49
Luke Ronchi c Uthappa b Chawla 0
Asley Noffke not out 33.
Extras: (lb2, w3) 5
Total: 272 for 6 wickets, in 50 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-103, 3-127, 4-168, 5-213, 6-215.
Bowling: Irfan Pathan 10-0-66-0, Praveen Kumar 10-1-43-2, Kulkarni 4-0-28-0, Piyush Chawla 10-0-62-2, Yusuf Pathan 10-0-38-1, Ravi Teja 3-0-17-0, Rohit Sharma 3-1-16-1.
India 'A':
Jayadev Shah c Hughes b Mar Cameron 26
Robin Uthappa b Mar Cameron 7
Ravi Teja c Voges b Doherty 33
Suresh Raina c Hussey b Geeves 46
Rohit Sharma run out 51
Yusuf Pathan c Hussey b Noffke 36
W P Saha not out 25
Irfan Pathan run out 14
Piyush Chawla not out 25.
Extras: (lb3, w9, nb2) 14
Total: (in 46 overs) 277 for 7.
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-58, 3-70, 4-155, 5-187, 6-214, 7-240.
Bowling: Brett Geeves 9-0-61-1, Mar Cameron 9-0-43-2, Ashley Noffke 9-0-54-1, Xavier Doherty 5-0-46-1, Cameron White 7-0-43-0, David Hussey 7-0-27-0.
