VB Series

At Brisbane, January 18, 2004 (day/night). India won by 19 runs. India 5 pts, Australia 1 pt. Toss: India. One-day international debut: R. S. Gavaskar.

India's highly rated top order gave a polished performance to give them their first one-day win over Australia in Australia for 12 years. Tendulkar, cramped by an ankle injury, refused a runner and had to cut back on twos - but he cracked eight magnificent boundaries for 86; Laxman played only orthodox cricket shots, all of them delightful, for an unbeaten 103; Dravid made an unobtrusive 74 from just 64 balls; and India passed 300 for the first time on Australian soil. Lee's ten overs cost 83. In their reply, Australia got off to a galloping start - they were 86 for one in the 11th over - but then slowed to a canter, and finally lost too many wickets. Hayden hit an imperious run-a-ball 109, but his departure, at 204 for five in the 34th over, spelt the end. On debut, Rohan Gavaskar, son of Sunil, bowled nine overs of left-arm spin for 56 but had his moment of glory with his fifth ball when he brought off a fine diving return catch to dismiss Symonds.

Man of the Match: V. V. S. Laxman. Attendance: 35,052.