BEVAN SPOILS LAXMAN'S PARTY

A superbly paced innings of 87 not out off 113 balls from master one-day batsman Michael Bevan steered Australia to a tense four wicket win in the deciding fifth match of the series against India in Goa. Bevan compiled a match-winning unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 67 in less than nine overs with all-rounder Ian Harvey, who contributed a vital knock of 25 off just 26 balls. That stand helped the tourists overcome a middle order stumble and win an entertaining series 3-2 after India had won the toss and posted 265-6 built around a maiden ODI ton from VVS Laxman and a fine 74 from skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Australian opener Adam Gilchrist led the run chase, rattling up 76 from just 60 balls, until he made room for himself in the 25th over against the spin of Sachin Tendulkar and was clean bowled to give the delighted bowler his 99th wicket in ODIs. In form Matthew Hayden and Gilchrist had got the Australian reply off to a flyer as they piled on 70 inside 11 overs, but then experienced seamer Javagal Srinath took two wickets in an over to peg back the tourists' progress.

Srinath had Hayden caught by Ganguly at mid-on for 36 made off 41 balls, including a superb straight six as well as five other boundaries, and then Ricky Ponting went caught behind for just four to make the total 74-2 at the end of the 11th over. Gilchrist had been threatening to take the game completely away from India after smashing a six and two fours off the previous over from Agarkar which cost 17 runs and reached his half-century off just 28 balls. But the run rate slowed following the double wicket blow and the introduction of Tendulkar to bowl in tandem with fellow spinner Harbhajan Singh stemmed the flow of boundaries. But it was still a surprise when Gilchrist fell to Tendulkar to make the score 142-3 in the 25th over.

Skipper Steve Waugh looked in immediate trouble against Tendulkar, offering a couple of half chances as the little master found plenty of turn. However just as Waugh and Bevan looked to be guiding Australia towards victory Tendulkar struck again when the Aussie skipper, on 17, holed out to Agarkar on the off-side boundary to give the bowler his 100th wicket in ODIs to put alongside his record 10,000-plus run haul and make the score 187-4 in the 35th over.

In Tendulkar's next and final over Bevan pushed a single to bring up his 50 off 79 balls with two boundaries, but then new batsman Darren Lehmann drove one and Yuvraj Singh took an excellent low catch at point. Tendulkar, the pick of the Indian attack, finished with 3-35 from his 10 overs.

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