Half-centuries from debutant Peter Forest and veteran David Hussey took Australia to a competitive 269 for eight in 50 overs against India in the fourth ODI of the tri-series at the Adelaide Oval Sunday.
Forrest made 66 while Hussey top-scored with 72. The duo featured in a 98-run partnership in a reshuffled batting order against an Indian side, that rested star Sachin Tendulkar.
Australia also shuffled its batting order with Forrest at number four. Veteran Ricky Ponting opened the innings with David Warner, and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade slid down the order to number seven.
Ponting scored just six while captain Michael Clarke, elevated to first drop, made 38 of 43 balls.
Warner, who was dropped on the third ball of the match when Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni turfed an inside edge, was run out for 18 in a mix-up with Clarke.
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Clarke was fooled by a slower ball from Umesh Yadav (2-44) and edged onto his stumps to leave Australia 3-81 in the 18th over.
Forrest and Hussey then resurrected the innings. Forrest smacked two towering straight sixes.
Hussey, whose 72 came from just 76 balls, put on 56 runs with all-rounder Dan Christian (39) at better than a run-a-ball.
