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Australia beat India by 8 wickets

Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds hit half-centuries apiece to steer world champions Australia to a comfortable eight-wicket win over India in the second match of the Aiwa Cup tri-nation one-day tournament played at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

Having kept India down to a total of 151 for 7 off 38 overs, Australia whose target was 159 according to the Duckworth and Lewis rain rule, sprinted towards the finish in style using up only 29.1 overs.

Gilchrist, a victim of a poor third umpire decision in Sunday's match against Sri Lanka, led the way with a restrained knock of 68 off 93 balls which included seven fours.

But Andrew Symonds, who supported Gilchrist in a second wicket stand of 132 off 147 balls took the Man-of-the-match award scoring a run-a-ball unbeaten innings of 68 which included seven fours and a six.

The pair came together after Mark Waugh had nicked a lifting delivery from Venkatesh Prasad to wicket-keeper Mannava Prasad at 12 in the fourth over.

Gilchrist fell to Sourav Ganguly's medium-pacers lofting him to Rahul Dravid at mid-on when Australia required four runs for victory. India choosing to bat first had their innings interrupted midway by rain at 65 for 3 in the 21st over. After a break for 150 minutes, the game was reduced to an 38-over affair and India added a further 86 runs off 17 overs to finish on 151 for 7 when the overs ran out. According to the Duckworth and Lewis rain rule, seven runs were added to the Indian total to arrive at the target Australia should chase. They require to make 158 to tie and 159 to win.

Tight bowling and fielding by Australia dried India of runs with the first boundary not coming until the 16th over, when Ajay Jadeja cover drove Tom Moody for four.

Jason Gillespie, 'Man of the Match' in Australia's opening match against Sri Lanka on Sunday, made the initial breakthrough at 25 when he trapped Sourav Ganguly lbw with a delivery that kept low. Sachin Tendulkar fell to a poor shot when he lofted Moody to mid on to give Darren Lehmann a straightforward catch.

When Andrew Symonds had Rahul Dravid caught behind by Gilchrist for five, India had lost 38 for 3 in the 15th over.

Jadeja made 30 off 54 balls and Robin Singh top scored with 38 off 52 balls hitting a six and a four to help India pass the 150-run mark. Australia with four points from two matches are ensured of a berth in the final to be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium under lights on August 31. Sri Lanka and India have no points. The two teams meet on Wednesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights.