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This is an archive article published on October 14, 2007

Australia clinch series by taking 4-1 lead

Australia relied on an all-round display to clinch the one-day series with a 18-run victory over India in the sixth one-dayer.

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Australia relied on an all-round display to clinch the one-day series with a 18-run victory over India in the sixth cricket one-dayer which saw the hosts frittering away a solid start and running out of steam in the slog overs.

After scoring a mammoth 317 for eight built around Andrew Symonds rollicking unbeaten 107, the Australians held their nerve to restrict the home team to 299 for seven and take an invincible 4-1 lead in the seven-match series.

The trusted opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar (72) and Sourav Ganguly (86) provided the foundation for the chase with a 140-run stand, but the Indians lost the plot in the middle overs to allow the asking rate to climb beyond manageable limits.

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Robin Uthappa (44 off 28 balls) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26 off 29 balls) made a last ditch effort to overhaul the target with some lusty hitting but both perished in quick succession in the 49th over to leave India stranded.

Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg was the pick of the Australian bowlers with impressive figures of four for 49 on a good batting strip at the VCA Stadium.

Mitchell Johnson, who bowled a maiden in the 49th over, chipped in with two for 39 while Man-of-the-Match Symonds followed up his batting exploits with an economic spell of 10-0-39-0.

The last day-night encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday has now been reduced to academic interest but the hosts will look for a consolation win to reduce the margin.

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