Australia top order starts well

Captain Ricky Ponting led from the front as Australia's top-order batsmen made a fine start to their seven-match series, in the first one-day international against India at Vadodara.

Ponting cracked a superb 74, opener Tim Paine made 50, Cameron White struck a steady half-century and Michael Hussey chipped in with a fluent 73 off just 54 deliveries as Australia finished with 292 for eight.

The skipper clobbered two sixes and eight fours on his way to his score in 85 balls.

India's new-ball bowlers initially found assistance from the surface, and Ashish Nehra hit Shane Watson on the back pad with a ball that seamed in for an lbw verdict in the first over.

Ponting, however, steadied the ship - and together with Paine, he built a solid foundation for the visitors.

Paine twice edged short of the slips early on, and Ponting skied Ishant Sharma to third man - where Gautam Gambhir was slow to react. The pair had added 97 for the second wicket when Paine was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ishant.

Ponting fell shortly later, trapped in front by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, and the tempo fell as White and Hussey began the process of rebuilding.

White eventually fell in the first over after the batting powerplay was taken - and Australia seemed in danger of losing their way, with Adam Voges and James Hopes falling cheaply.

But Hussey superbly accelerated at the death clobbered Praveen Kumar for 18 runs in his final over.

Ishant sent down an excellent final over, claiming Hussey with the first ball and bowling Brett Lee with the last - and conceding only one run to keep Australia under 300.