The match, as it happened
Scorecard
India is virtually knocked out of the cricket tri-series after a crushing 87-run defeat at the hands of Australia, which qualified for the final after Sunday's 10th match of the tournament, which also features Sri Lanka.
Only a miracle of Australia beating Sri Lanka in the next tie and then India also beating Sri Lanka by a big margin with a bonus point will see India in the final of the tournament.
India is at the bottom of the points table with 10 points, Australia are at the top with 19 points while Sri Lanka have 15 points. In case both Sri Lanka and India end tied with 15 points, the Net Run Rate will come into play.
The Indians did reasonably well in the death overs to restrict the hosts to 252 for nine but could never really recover from the early jolts to fold up for a paltry 165 in 39.3 overs to suffer their third defeat on the trot in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest marked by controversial 'obstruction' incidents.
Australia rode on useful batting contributions from David Warner (68), Matthew Wade (56) and David Hussey (54) and some disciplined bowling on a sporting SCG track.
It was again the spineless batting display that cost India dearly in a match which they desperately needed to win to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the finals.
As many as six Australian bowlers grabbed wickets with Shane Watson marking his return to international cricket with 2 for 9 from five overs.
The by now-familiar inability of the top order to strike was in evidence as was the fact that middle-order has now become adept at wasting good starts.
Virender Sehwag (5), utterly miserable on this tour, again came a cropper, lasting 11 balls and driving a return catch to Ben Hilfenhaus who took a stunning catch off his bootlaces in his follow through.
Sachin Tendulkar (14) was run-out and went away gesticulating angrily, believing bowler Brett Lee had purposely blocked his path.
Gautam Gambhir had dabbed a ball on the off-side and Lee crossed the pitch in a bid to prevent a single. But even as fielder David Warner picked up the ball and took a shy at the stumps, Lee stood in a manner, hands on his knees with his back to the non-striker, that Tendulkar had to go round him and thus lost the crucial second of making his ground.
It was the second controversial moment of the day, the first being the 'obstructing the field' appeal against David Hussey which wasn't upheld by the umpires.
Hussey had thrust out his hands and prevented Suresh Raina's throw from reaching the stumps but umpires reckoned the batsmen had done so to prevent a physical injury and he didn't intend to prevent a run-out.
But to return to the Indian innings, Gambhir (23) and Virat Kohli (21) briefly promised a revival, putting on 44 runs for the third wicket before both fell close to each other.
Kohli flicked Shane Watson to midwicket and Gambhir dragged a square drive off Clint McKay on to his stumps. For the umpteenth time this summer, the batsmen had failed to capitalize on good foundations.
