Ishant stuns Aussies

India's Ishant Sharma dented Australia's hopes of a second successive win as his superb bowling effort helped dismiss the hosts for 159 in the Commonwealth Bank Series match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Ishant was in fine form as he claimed the wickets of Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Stuart Clark to leave the home side facing an uphill struggle.

Michael Hussey's unbeaten 65 was not enough to save the hosts, who simply had no answer to Ishant and Sreesanth.

Australia got off to a disappointing start when Adam Gilchrist was controversially adjudged lbw off the bowling of Sreesanth without scoring.

And Hayden (25) became Ishant's first victim soon after when he was caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The hosts looked in danger of an embarrassing collapse when Ponting was caught at first slip by Sachin Tendulkar for nine, again off the bowling of Ishant.

And Australia were reduced to 64 for four when Irfan Pathan removed Michael Clarke (11), before Symonds (14) gave Ishant his third wicket when he was caught behind by Dhoni after edging a delivery which straightened.

Dhoni claimed his third victim of the innings when he stumped Brad Haddin (five) as he attempted a sweep off Harbhajan Singh. That left the hosts in real trouble on 92 for six and though Brett Lee (10) and Hussey rebuilt well, putting on 53 for the seventh wicket, there was little resistance after the former was caught by Dhoni off Pathan.

From then on the wickets quickly tumbled as Sreesanth removed Mitchell Johnson (three) and Nathan Bracken (one). And Ishant then claimed his fourth wicket as Clark edged his first delivery to Dhoni to wrap up the innings.

Ishant was the star with the ball for India, claiming four for 38, and Sreesanth (three for 31) offered good support.