On a different day, at a different venue and against a different opposition, Australia may not have looked so fragile. But on a Super Saturday, in front of a capacity crowd that was hostile to the point of being intimidating — even if they were those unflappable blokes from Down Under — and against a remarkably confident Indian side, Ricky Ponting's men resembled babies.

The shortest version of cricket – Twenty20 – made its international debut on Indian soil with a bang with the hosts thumping Australia by seven wickets under lights here at the Brabourne stadium.

Such was the build up to this game that Australia, more than savouring their 4-2 one-day series victory over, might be ruing the loss of Twenty20 game now. This was one golden chance for Ponting and his men to get even with India after their loss to the Twenty20 Champs in South Africa. But that was not to be.

The music was back and so were the cheer leaders, imported ones at that. But the Australians, for close to one and half hours during India's chase, looked clueless and it was Johannesburg re-visited. While India's win in this one-off T20 match wasn't surprising, the manner in which they coasted to victory must have come as a rude shock to the Antipodeans.

Better side
Throughout the length of the match that lasted 38.1 overs, India looked the better side every inch. Their fielding, barring a couple of pick ups in the outfield, was excellent. Bowling, under the conditions, was impressive and batting, the margin of victory leaves nothing to describe. India's game-plan too was refreshingly innovative. That they called back Murali Kartik, who had the second best economy rate in the match, from Delhi to join the team indicated how seriously they were taking this match.   

Coming back after a three-week layoff following a groin injury, man of the match Gautam Gambhir (63, 52b, 5x4, 1x5, 1x6) and Robin Uthappa (35, 26b, 6x4) set about the chase after an early blow in the form of opener Virender Sehwag. The left-right combination was an object lesson in the art of innings building in this form of the game. Running as hard they could between the wickets the duo stole a number of singles, punished each delivery that begged for and in a matter of 52 balls they gathered 82 runs. It was a mere formality once such a strong foundation was laid. Yuvraj Singh (31, 25b, 1x4, 3x6), who deposited pacer Stuart Clark into fine-leg fence twice in succession, and Dhoni finished off the job without any fuss.   

Quick start
Australia, electing to bat, couldn't have asked for a better start as Adam Gilchrist struck RP Singh for three consecutive fours in the very first over. But the left-arm pacer had his revenge with a yorker that uprooted southpaw's middle stump. The second-wicket yielded 58 runs between Ponting and Matthew Hayden before Harbhajan Singh, who was easily the best bowler on show from either side, castled the opener.
Ponting then played the lone hand displaying the urgency needed at the time and racing to 76 (53b, 13x4) that formed the cornerstone of Aussie innings. Having restricted the visitors to 166, India reached 167 for three in 18.1 overs for a facile win.

So comprehensive was the win that when Dhoni pulled Brett Lee over mid-wicket fence for a six to collect the winning runs, hardly any soul in the stadium realised that the target has been overhauled. It was only when the umpires declared the play closed that the crowd went delirious.

SCORE BOARD
AUSTRALIA
Gilchrist b RP Singh 12
(5b, 3x4)
Hayden b Harbhajan 17
(19b, 1x4, 2x6)
Ponting b Pathan 76
(53b, 13x4)
Symonds (run out) 20
(18b, 1x4)
Hodge b Pathan 2
(6b)
Clarke (not out) 25
(15b, 2x4)
Haddin (not out) 5
(4b)
Extras (LB-2, W-7) 9
Total (for five wickets, 20 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Gilchrist), 2-60 (Hayden), 3-110 (Symonds), 4-116 (Hodge), 5-158 (Ponting).  
Bowling: RP Singh 4-0-39-1 (1w), Sreesanth 4-0-47-0 (w-2), Pathan 4-0-34-2, Harbhajan 4-0-17-1, Kartik 4-0-26-0.
Scoring pattern: After 5 overs: 45/1, 10: 81/2, 15: 116/4, End of innings: 166/5 in 20 overs.
Runs during Power Play: 1-7: 60/2.

INDIA
Gambhir c Ponting b H’hous 63
(52b, 5x4, 1x5, 1x6)
Sehwag c Gilchrist b Lee 5
(5b, 1x4)
Uthappa c Gilchrist b Clarke 35
(26b, 6x4)
Yuvraj (not out) 31
(25b, 1x4, 3x6)
Dhoni (not out) 9
(5b, 1x6)
Extras (LB-12, W-9, NB-3) 24
Total (For 3 wickets, 18.1 overs) 167
Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Sehwag), 2-102 (Uthappa), 3-143 (Gambhir).
Bowling: Lee 3.1-0-35-1 (w-1, nb-1), Bracken 2-0-19-0 (w-1), Hilfenhaus 4-0-28-1 (nb-2), Clark 4-0-33-2 (w-6), Symonds 3-0-26-0, Clarke 2-0-14-1 (w-1).
Scoring pattern: After 5 overs: 50/1, 10: 101/1, 15: 142/2; End of innings: 167/3 in 18.1 overs.
Run during Power Play: 1-7: 74/1.