Rain saved india

he tourists won the toss and opted to bat first, with Gautam Gambhir contributing 39 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni 37 as the Indians were restricted to 194 from their 45 overs - the match already having been reduced by five overs following a 90-minute delay.

Lee was the pick of the Australian bowlers with five for 27 from nine overs - his seventh five-wicket haul in one-day internationals.

The India innings was disrupted by rain, meaning the hosts' victory target was revised at the interval to 192 from 43 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

But the rain persisted when the Australia innings got under way and, although the target was further adjusted following delays, the downpour ultimately caused the match to be called off with the home team 51 for three after 7.2 overs in pursuit of 141 from 26.

Australia handed an ODI debut to Ashley Noffke, while India gave Manoj Tiwary his first limited-overs appearance.

Virender Sehwag struck the first boundary of the innings when he hit Lee over the top.

However, the opener, who enjoyed a prolific return to the Test side in the recent series between the countries, then chopped a Nathan Bracken delivery onto his stumps and departed for six.

Sachin Tendulkar, opening alongside Sehwag, edged Bracken for four before he was dismissed for 10 when he trod on his stumps after playing back to a short-of-a-length delivery from Lee to leave India 26 for two.

Gambhir then gave Noffke a stern introduction to one-day cricket when he cut the seamer's first ball through gully to the ropes before hitting another boundary over cover.

Partner Rohit Sharma got off the mark with a front-foot drive off Bracken that found the boundary before smacking Noffke for two consecutive fours as he and Gambhir set about repairing the early damage.The Australians were uncharacteristically sloppy in the field. Michael Hussey put down a low chance at second slip off Gambhir from Mitchell Johnson and, two balls later, Ricky Ponting got his fingertips to another Gambhir edge at first slip but could not hold on.Johnson finally got his man, however, as the left-hander shuffled across his stumps and was caught leg before wicket dead in front to leave India 91 for three.That became 93 for four when Rohit - on 29 - looked to cut a wide one from Lee, but a lack of footwork proved his undoing and he produced a faint edge that was snapped up by Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps.Lee then bowled Tiwary with a full delivery for two to leave India reeling on 94 for five and Robin Uthappa was next to go after making five as a leading edge was caught by Michael Clarke to give Noffke his first wicket with the score on 106.