Zaheer Khan, Murali Kartik take India to two wicket win

Mumbai, Oct 17 (UNI) A superb unbeaten 52 run stand for the ninth wicket between Zaheer Khan and Murali Kartik took India to a two wicket consolation win over Australia in the seventh and final one-dayer played at the Wankhede stadium here today.

Chasing a target of 194 for victory, India achieved the target making 195 for 8 wickets in 46 overs.

Australia, however won the seven match series for the Future Cup by 4-2 with one match being washed out midway due to rain.

Earlier, batting first on winning the toss, Australia did not have an answer to the spin of Murali Kartik who returned with his best ever one-day figures of 6 for 27 in 10 overs to skittle out Australia for 193.

Australian fast bowlers however struck back, with Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken giving a superb display of swing bowling as they reduced the Indians to 69 for six before Robin Uthappa with Harbhajan Singh put on 65 runs to stabilise the innings.

However, Uthappa fell three short of his 50 and then Harbhajan followed for 19 to leave India on 143 for eight with Australia once again on top.

But, Zaheer Khan and the bowling hero Murali Kartik played sensibly as they garnered the runs slowly but surely with Zaheer also hitting Brett Lee for a huge six to take India to a superb win.

Zaheer remained unbeaten on 31 while Kartik was 21 not out.

Earlier, India made two changes from the team which they had in Nagpur giving Rahul Dravid a 'rest' and leaving out S Sreesanth.

Dinesh Karthick and R P Singh took their places, while the Australians named an unchanged side with Matthew Hayden once again failing a fitness test for his injured hip.

UNI