By IANS
Sydney : Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar hit his first century in Australia to propel India to six-wicket win against the World Champions in the first of the three-match final of the Commoonwealth Bank tri-series here Sunday.
Tendulkar, with his 117 not out off 120 balls, surpassed his previous best in Australia was 93 against Pakistan at Hobart on January 21, 2000.Sachin, thus extended his world record feat of most hundreds (42) in ODIs. He also extended his tally of centuries against Australia to eight.
Rohit Sharma, who played a crucial knock of 66, and forged a 123-run fourth wicket stand scored his third ODI half-cenury.
The following are the other highlights of the match
— With a triumph at SCG, India registered their first win against Australia at this venue in 12 matches since December 1980.
— Overall, India have won 8 and lost 26 out of 35 played in Australia (NR 1).
— India registered their first ever win in the final of the triangular series in Australia.
— India (242-4) recorded their highest ever total in a triangular series final in Australia, eclipsing the 222 at MCG Feb 6, 2004
— Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with two dismissals (Clarke and Hopes), took his tally of dismissals to 18 (16 catches + 2 stumpings) in the 2007-08 CB series, which is a new record by an Indian wicketkeeper in an ODI series, eclipsing Rahul Dravid’s tally of 16 dismisals (15 catches + 1 stumping) in the 2002-03 World Cup.
— The 100-run partnership between Hayden and Symonds is Australia’s second best for the fourth wicket against India at SCG, next only to the 102 between Ponting and Symonds, Feb 24, 2008.
— Harbhajan Singh (10-2-38-2) has produced his best figures in Australia, eclipsing his 1 for 15 against Sri Lanka at Canberra Feb 12, 2008.