Ponting dropped anchor and was content to play the spinners with caution. Australia's captain completed his half-century off 74 deliveries with a single to the point region in the 26th over by Harbhajan.

Ravindra Jadeja claimed a big wicket in his second spell, when he trapped Ponting for 59 off 92 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries. The batsman tried to play a full delivery across the line but missed it and was struck right in front of the stumps

 

Image: Ricky Ponting is dropped by Dhoni

Australia's two most experienced batsmen, Ponting and Hussey, struggled to come to terms with the turning wicket. Their second wicket partnership yielded 56 runs in 89 deliveries without a single boundary as the Indian spinners started to take control.

Image: Ricky Ponting plays a cut short during his innings of 59

The last five overs turned the game on its head as Australia lost two wickets for the addition of just 18 runs. With just five overs remaining, Australia had no option but to take the Batting Powerplay, with the scoreboard reading 193 for four after 45 overs.

The boundaries were difficult, even in the Powerplays, with the ball doing all kinds of tricks. Hussey pulled a short delivery from Nehra through midwicket for a boundary, the first after ten overs, as the Indian bowlers looked to keep the runs at a minimum in the final few overs.

He then carted Nehra for a huge six over long-on off the first delivery of the final over. He finished unbeaten on a fine innings of 80 from 81 deliveries, inclusive of three boundaries and a six, to take Australia to a healthy 229 for five in their 50 overs.

Image: Micheal Hussey plays a sweep shot

After a quiet start, Sachin Tendulkar got off the blocks in style, hitting Johnson for two boundaries in the first over of the innings.

While Tendulkar raced to 18 from as many deliveries, Sehwag was unable to get moving in the initial overs, scoring five from 11 deliveries, as India reached 24 for no loss after five overs.

Johnson bowled Sehwag with an incoming delivery. Without any real footwork, Sehwag tried to play across the line and was beaten all ends up and dismissed for 11 from 25 deliveries.

Image: Ricky Ponting and Mitchell Johnson celebrate after dismissing Virender Sehwag

Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir were out in quick succession and the onus was on Yuvraj Singh and skipper M S Dhoni to guide India to victory.

Dhoni and Yuvraj proved that once a batsman got his eye in it was not as difficult as many thought it would be. The duo dealt mostly in singles, yet brought up their 50-run partnership in no time -- off 62 deliveries in the 25th over -- to repair the innings after the loss of a few quick wickets.

Later, Yuvraj went on the attack and the Aussies began to lose a grip on the match.

Image: Yuvraj Singh plays a shot on the off-side during the 3rd ODI on Saturday

While Yuvraj was going after the bowlers, at the other end Dhoni was content to play second fiddle as he concentrated mostly on rotating the strike.

Dhoni reached his half-century off 81 deliveries, with two boundaries, in the 44th over. However, Australia had a glimmer of hope when Henriques picked Yuvraj for 78 in the 44th over.

With the fielding restrictions in place, Dhoni made most of it by thumping Siddle for a powerful boundary straight back past him in the 46th over.

Suresh Raina hit the winning runs when he played one fine on the leg side which was misfielded and went to the boundary and Dhoni finished unbeaten on a wonderful innings of 71 from 95 deliveries, with six boundaries to see India through.

Image: MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina celebrate after winning the third ODI on Saturday