Mohali, Nov. 2: Australia made the most of available resources to beat India by 24 runs in the fourth of the seven-match one-day series and draw levwl at 2-2 here on Monday. Shane Watson was adjudged man of the match for his 49 and 3/29.

However, it was left-arm pacer Douglas Bollinger who prised open the door for Australia, who retained their world number one ranking with this win. India were bowled out for 226 in 46.4 overs chasing 251 for the win. Australia were earlier dismissed for 250 in 49.2 overs.

Nicknamed "Doug the Rug", the little-known left-arm paceman played the match of his life — only his fifth one-day international and the second in this series — accounting for Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and skipper M.S. Dhoni, as India made a mess of the chase.

Harbhajan Singh looked threatening in his entertaining knock (31 off 25 balls), but it was too late by then.

Set to chase 251, Sehwag crashed a blistering 30 in 19 balls to set the tone for the home side. The Najafgarh Nawab showed there were no demons in the pitch as India racked up 40 runs in the first five overs.

Sehwag played at will, whacking the ball in all corners of the ground. Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson bore the brunt of his blade and was hit for three boundaries each in consecutive overs. The bowler’s opening spell read 3-0-34-0.

Sehwag’s dismissal in the seventh over — the opener holing out to Shane Watson off Bollinger — brought in Kohli, who also fell soon.

Sachin Tendulkar made a dogged 40 (68 balls, 6x4), but finished seven runs short of achieving the elusive 17,000 run mark that has been the talking point of the series.

The master blaster fell to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, trying to play a turning ball. Umpire Asoka De Silva did not hesitate to raise his finger, when the ball clearly appeared to be going down the leg side.

An unhappy Tendulkar departed with India at 94/3 in 18.5 overs.

The target of 250 suddenly looked like a mountain, and it again boiled down to Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh to deliver the goods. The duo, however, found the going tough against the Australian bowlers, who kept things tight.

Earlier, the Indian bowlers stuck to a tight line and length in restricting Australia to 250 in 49.2 overs on a batting track. Placed comfortably at 201/4 in 40 overs, the visitors lost four quick wickets in the last few overs to unsettle their chances big time.

Pacer Ashish Nehra (3/37 in 8 overs), in particular, bowled a perfect line to knock the wind out of the batsmen.

Ricky Ponting however, was his destructive self and slammed the off-colour Ishant Sharma for a six and a four in the latter’s very first over.

Ponting brought up his half century in 56 balls that contained five fours and a six. He and Watson — who was going strong at the other end — raised 64 off 63 balls for the second wicket, before Harbhajan separated them with his very first delivery.

Cameron White finished as the top scorer with a patient 71-ball 62. The middle-order batsman found the boundary four times, and cleared it once. Ishant’s poor form continued, the pacer conceding 42 runs in five overs.

Dhoni brought on part-timers Yuvraj and Jadeja, and the runs soon dried up. Ponting was the next to go, Jadeja’s direct hit found the 34-year old well short of the crease as he attempted a second run.

The Indians were clinical in the field and accounted for as many as four run outs. Local boy Harbhajan also found some form and had figures of 2/48 to show against his name. ‘Mr Cricket’ Michael Hussey scored 40 as Nehra and some tight fielding polished off the tail in no time.

Earlier, India fielded Virat Kohli in place of Gautam Gambhir, who was rested due to a swollen neck.