At Kochi ( Cochin), April 1. India won by 41 runs. Toss: India. International debut: A. B. Agarkar.

There were high expectations of Tendulkar, who had averaged 111.50 in the Test series against Australia, but he fell for just eight when he lofted a cover drive. Azharuddin (who passed Allan Border's record of 273 one-day international appearances in this match) and Jadeja then restored the impetus with a century partnership. Supported late on in the innings by Kanitkar, Jadeja took India to 309, their second-highest one-day score behind their 316 for seven against Pakistan earlier in 1998. But Australia set off at a rate of knots and, at 202 for three in the 32nd over, were well placed. Enter Tendulkar, bowling a mixture of off-spin and medium-pace. His five for 32 wrested the game from the visitors and the match award from Jadeja.

Man of the Match: S. R. Tendulkar.

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