Chandigarh, October 8:

India defeated mighty Australia by eight runs in a thrilling finish in the fourth one-dayer here today.

Dismissing Andrew Symonds (75) and Brad Hogg (0) on consecutive deliveries in the 47th over, India fought back from almost a losing position to reduce the Australian lead in the series to 2-1.

Australia were cruising along comfortably at 268-5 in the 46th over. Australia needed 22 runs in the last two overs, but the Indian bowlers kept Brett Lee and James Hopes in check to turn the tables.

Matthew Hayden (92) and Symonds had put Australia on course to reaching a victory target of 292. Hayden hit 11 fours and two sixes. India’s fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh took 2-66 and was supported by offspinner Harbhajan Singh pocketed 2-43.

Earlier, some lusty hitting by skipper Mahendra Dhoni (50 not out) and Robin Uthappa (30 not out) helped India score 291-4. Dhoni and Uthappa overshadowed Sachin Tendulkar who scored 79 runs off 117.

The last 10 overs yielded 89 runs for India. The Indian batting blossomed in the latter half of the innings after openers Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar had a torrid first hour. Lee and Nathan Bracken tested the Indian openers severely.

Tendulkar was lucky to survive two close leg before wicket shouts and a caught behind appeal by the Australians. Tendulkar went on to score 79 before he was run out by a direct hit from Lee from fine leg.

Nevertheless, Tendulkar reached a personal milestone scoring his 84th half century. He surpassed Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul Haq’s record of 83 half centuries. The visitors won the second and third matches after the first game was abandoned due to rain.

S Africa Vs Pakistan

Lahore: Ashwell Prince and Jacques Kallis hit fighting half centuries for South Africa against a disciplined Pakistan attack on the first day of the second Test.

South Africa prodded to 259-6 with Mark Boucher not out on 9 and Andre Nel yet to score. Prince (63) shared the stand of 83 with De Villiers (45) before both were dismissed in the last half an hour.

It was leg-spinner Danish Kaneria (2-73), who bowled a marathon spell of 27 overs, and denied South African batsmen to score freely. Kaneria came onto bowl in only the 12th over of the day and was duly rewarded with key wickets of Kallis (59) and captain Graeme Smith (46), who elected to bat after winning the toss.

Kaneria struck in the middle session when he foxed Smith with a delivery that turned sharply and hit the stumps.

Kallis put on 53 runs with Smith and shared another productive 60-run stand with Prince. Kaneria struck in the last over before tea when he had Kallis trapped leg before wicket. Kallis scored 155 and unbeaten 100 in South Africa’s first Test victory last week.

Pakistan brought in its two experienced batsmen — Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf — after both opted out of the first Test. Inzamam is playing his last match before retiring from Test.