Melbourne, February 10:

Teenage paceman Ishant Sharma reinforced his status as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket with a man-of-the-match performance to inspire his side to victory in a tri-series match against Australia here today.

Set just 160 to win after Sharma rocked the Australians with four wickets, there were plenty of anxious moments for the young Indians with the bat when they lost 3-13 to slump to 5-102.

India had looked in control at 89-2, but when Sachin Tendulkar’s 400th one-day international innings ended on 44 and Yuvraj Singh’s woeful summer continued when he departed for three, the Australians had the scent of victory.

However, youngster Rohit Sharma (39 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out) weathered the storm with determined and composed batting that yielded an unbroken 58-run stand. The result breathed new life into the tri-series and was just India’s second one-day win against the home side in 18 matches in Australia since 1986.

Electing to bat, the Australians made their second-lowest total ever batting first with only 159 in 43.1 overs. Sharma wrecked havoc on the Australian top order claiming 4-38. He should have had five wickets, with wicketkeeper Dhoni grassing a chance from tailender Nathan Bracken, and was well supported by Shanth Sreesanth, with 3-31, and Irfan Pathan (2-26).

The 19-year-old Sharma had Matthew Hayden caught behind. Hayden (25) didn’t move his feet at all as he attempted a lusty cover drive and only got a thick edge through to Dhoni. Sharma then produced a superb rising delivery as Ricky Ponting’s form slump continued when he was caught at first slip by Sachin Tendulkar for just nine.

Sharma’s third victim was Andrew Symonds, the right-hander well caught for 14 off the outside edge by the diving Dhoni as he attempted to defend another rising delivery. Australia had lost 4-38 and were in all sorts of trouble at 75-5. A brilliant piece of work by Dhoni then removed Brad Haddin (five), stumped down the leg side off a Harbhajan Singh wide as Australia slumped to 92-6.

Only Mike Hussey held the Australian innings together with an unbeaten 65, his 53-run stand with Brett Lee for the seventh wicket adding respectability to the total. Sharma wrapped up the innings when Dhoni completed his fifth dismissal to remove Stuart Clark.