Brisbane, March 4:

India ended a tumultuous tour with a dramatic, Sachin Tendulkar-inspired 2-0 limited-overs finals series win over World Cup champions Australia here today.

Tendulkar posted 91 in India’s 258-9, following his match-winning 117 not out in the first final. Praveen Kumar took 4-46, including the wicket of Adam Gilchrist (2) and Ricky Ponting (1), to have Australia reeling at 8-2 before the hosts forced it into the last over.

Irfan Pathan sealed the nine-run win, removing Nathan Bracken (1) and ending James Hopes’ defiant 63-run knock in four balls as Australia were bowled out for 249 in 49.4 overs. India dominated in stages and took wickets in batches to stem Australia’s momentum.

Harbhajan Singh removed both Matthew Hayden (55) and Andrew Symonds (42) within a few balls to end an innings-salvaging fourth-wicket partnership, leaving just too much for Hopes and the tailenders. Hopes hit a six in the penultimate over, leaving Australia needing 14 runs from six balls to level the series and force a third-match in Adelaide.

But Pathan held his nerve, taking his first wickets of the finals series to spark Indian jubilation after a long tour that included a Test-series loss to Australia and the tri-series that also involved Sri Lanka.

Australia were in deep trouble at 32-3 but Symonds and Hayden restored the innings with an 89-run partnership before both were out in the space of four balls. Hayden was run out for 55 at the non-striker’s end after mix-up when Symonds. Harbhajan trapped Symonds leg before wicket and Australia slipped from 121-3 to 123-5.

Mike Hussey (44) and Hopes put on 76 for the sixth wicket to lift the total to 199 in the 42nd over before Hussey got an edge to Sreesanth and was caught behind.

Tendulkar shared a 94-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa (30) and a 54-run partnership for the third wicket with Yuvraj Singh (38). But he was out nine runs short of a 43rd ODI century when Ponting held a diving catch at short mid-on off Clarke’s bowling.

Clarke returned with 3-52. Nathan Bracken, removed Irfan Pathan (12) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (36) in the 48th over and Praveen Kumar (7) in the last to finish with 3-31.