Nagpur, Oct. 28: The very first ball Mahendra Dhoni faced was a knock on the head from a Ben Hilfenhaus bouncer. The India skipper simply smiled before completing the single.

Having seen India stumble to 97/3 in 15 overs, Dhoni knew that he had to stay at the crease for as long as possible if the hosts were to harbour hopes of putting it past Australia. And he did just that by bludgeoning 124 (107b, 9x4, 3x6) to power the hosts to a comprehensive 99-run win against Ricky Ponting’s men at the VCA Stadium here on Wednesday, to level the seven-match series 1-1.

Dhoni’s fifth century, his first in 16 months had powered the hosts to 354/7, their highest against the world champions in ODIs. In reply, Australia lost the plot in the first 10 overs itself, when the top three, including Ponting were dismissed.

Michael Hussey 53 (60b, 6x4) tried to resurrect the innings but once he was castled by Ravindra Jadeja (3/35), the Aussies were never in the game before folding up at 255 in 48.3 overs.

Earlier with dew expected to play a major factor, Ponting sent India in to bat. Anything under 300 would have pleased the Aussie skipper but Dhoni had other ideas. Virender Sehwag 40 (31b, 6x4, 1x6) got the team off to a flyer by smashing Hilfenhaus for two fours in the first over of the match. Sachin Tendulkar (4) went back early after Siddle induced an edge to White at first slip, but Sehwag was in no mood to tone it down.

He struck a sweetly-timed six off Mitchell Johnson as Ponting delayed in taking the bowling power play till the 11th over. However, Sehwag perished soon, failing to clear Hilfenhaus at long-off. Yuvraj Singh, returning from a finger injury, was on song straightaway before Hilfenhaus plucked a straight drive off his own bowling.

Dhoni then reconstructed the innings with Gautam Gambhir 76 (80b, 6x4) before going ballistic with Suresh Raina 62 (50b, 6c4, 1x6). Dhoni’s 119-run (113b) partnership for the fourth wicket with Gambhir kept Aussies on the hook, while the 136 (93b) for the fifth with Raina knocked the wind out of their sails.

The Indian skipper hit three sixes in four balls — one off Hilfenhaus and the next two off Shane Watson — to reach his century. Even Raina joined the party to treat the 40,000 strong crowd witnessing the first ODI at the ground. There has been a growing debate over Dhoni’s batting up the order, with many pundits of the opinion that the 28-year-old could be more effective at No. 3. or 5. He, however, had dismissed the idea on the match eve and he showed exactly why on Wednesday.

Ponting, though, would have regretted putting the Indians in first. The 35-year-old will have more headaches in the next five matches, if Brett Lee’s sore elbow doesn’t heal quickly.