Indian captain MS Dohni (left) congratulates his teammate Rohit Sharma after defeating Australia in their one-day international cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in Australia, yesterday. - AP

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma took four wickets and Australia were bowled out for 159 runs yesterday as India scored a five-wicket win in a tri-series limited-over match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

India overcame a mid-innings slump at 102-5 to reach the winning target with 25 balls to spare, beating Australia for only the fifth time in one-day games since the 2003 World Cup final.

The win moved India to the top of the tri-series standings. India now have nine points and Australia eight from three games, with Sri Lanka on two points from two matches. Sri Lanka will play India tomorrow in Canberra.

India looked strong when Sachin Tendulkar was at the crease, but the veteran was out for 44, caught by a diving Brett Lee at mid-off in the 26th over. And when Yuvraj Singh was out in the 29th over, India's seemingly easy run chase began to look challenging.

But Rohit Sharma, 39 not out, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, unbeaten on 17, steered India home.

Fast bowlers

Australia played four fast bowlers - wrist-spinner Brad Hogg was 12th man and all-rounder James Hopes was sidelined by hamstring tightness - which helped India, as Australia was forced to use part-time spinners Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds.

Sharma took 4-38 after removing Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting in successive overs to peg down the home side, which had scored quickly at 37-1 after five overs.

Shantha Sreesanth took 3-31, benefiting from umpire Rudi Koertzen's dubious decision to give Adam Gilchrist (0) out lbw to a delivery that appeared to get an inside edge in the first over.

Mike Hussey was the leading Australian batsman with 65 not out from 88 balls until he ran out of partners. He gained support from Lee, who made 10 in a stand of 53 which rescued the side from 92-6.

Sharma was named man of the match.

"I just played my natural game,'' Sharma said. ''It was a big win for us.''