Sachin Tendulkar scored his first one-day century on Australian soil as an inspired India spanked the World champions by six wickets in the first match of the best-of-three finals in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in Sydney on Sunday.
After the Indian bowlers put up a disciplined performance to restrict Australia to 239 for eight, Tendulkar (117 not out) batted like a true champion. He not only notched his 42nd ODI century but also shouldered the responsibility of steering India home with 25 balls to spare.
Following are the statistical highlights:
# India registered their first ever win in a final of a triangular series in Australia. They had lost their previous six finals.
# It was India's first win against Australia at the SCG in 12 matches since December 1980.
# India have won four and lost 11 out of 15 matches played at the SCG.
# Overall, India have won eight and lost 26 out of the 35 matches they have played in Australia (No Result 1).
# India (242-4) recorded their highest ever total in a triangular series final in Australia, eclipsing the 222 at MCG on 6.2.2004.
# Sachin Tendulkar, with his first hundred in Australia, has extended his record for most hundreds (42) in ODIs and most against Australia (8).
# His previous highest in Australia was 93 against Pakistan at Hobart on 21.1.2000, followed by 86 against Australia at Brisbane on 18.1.2004.
# Tendulkar extended his tally of Man of the Match awards to 57.
# Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma's 123-run stand is India's second best stand for the fourth wicket against Australia in Australia, next only to the 213 between VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh at SCG on 22.1.2004.
# Rohit posted his first fifty against Australia -- his third in ODIs.
# Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with two dismissals (Michael Clarke and James Hopes), took his tally of dismissals to 18 (16 catches + 2 stumpings) in the series, which is a new record by an Indian wicketkeeper in an ODI competition/series, eclipsing Rahul Dravid's tally of 16 dismissals (15 catches + 1 stumping) in the 2003 World Cup.
# Harbhajan Singh (10-2-38-2) has produced his best figures in Australia, eclipsing his 1 for 15 against Sri Lanka at Canberra on February 12, 2008. Against Australia in Australia, his previous best figures were 8-2-19-1 at MCG on 10.2.2008.
# Matthew Hayden, when on 4, completed his 6000 runs in ODIs (6078) at an average of 43.72 in 160 games. He is the eighth Australian to achieve this distinction, joining Ricky Ponting (11025), Adam Gilchrist (9617), Mark Waugh (8500), Steve Waugh (7569), Michael Bevan (6912), Allan Border (6524) and Dean Jones (6068).
# Hayden recorded his third 50-plus score against India at the SCG -- his previous two such innings being 126 on 8.2.2004 and 54 on 24.2.2008.
# The 100-run partnership between Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds is Australia's second best for the fourth wicket against India at the SCG, next only to the 102 between Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds on February 24, 2008.
# Symonds (1025 at an average of 41.00 in 35 matches) became the 8th Australian to aggregate 1,000 runs or more against India, joining Ricky Ponting (1712), Adam Gilchrist (1620), Matthew Hayden (1395), David Boon (1212), Steve Waugh (1117), Allan Border (1104) and Michael Bevan (1081).
