Ponting Puts Aussies 1-0 Up

Australia easily won the first match of the VB Series final against India by seven wickets after captain Ricky Ponting smashed 88 off 80 balls.

After India had posted a modest score of 222 all out off 49 overs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Australia reached their target at a canter, scoring 224 for three from 40.1 overs.

A typically blistering start by Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden was ended in just the sixth over, with the score on 48.

Gilchrist raced to 38 from just 20 deliveries before top-edging a hook shot to fine leg off the bowling of Lakshmipathy Balaji. Sachin Tendulkar made the tricky catch look surprisingly easy.

Ponting and Matthew Hayden (50) then shared a second wicket partnership of 139 off 151 balls against an Indian attack led by 22-year-old seamer Balaji, who took three for 52.

The Australian captain was furious with himself after edging a catch to Rahul Dravid for his 88, but he has now overtaken Michael Bevan to move third in the list of Australian leading run-scorers in one day internationals.

Damien Martyn (20 not out) and Andrew Symonds (10 not out) then calmly set about scoring the 30 runs required for victory.

India's first six wickets fell for just 75 runs in 21.1 overs. Both openers were removed early on, the pace of Jason Gillespie accounting for Virender Sehwag (three), who fended off a short delivery straight to Gilchrist.

Tendulkar (eight) followed shortly afterwards when Brett Lee removed his off stump to leave India on 14 for two.

Hemang Badani (60 not out) and Ajit Agarkar (53) put on 102 runs for the seventh wicket to lift India towards a competitive total.

Australia take a 1-0 lead into the second final in Sydney on Sunday. A deciding match is scheduled for Brisbane on Tuesday, should it be required.