Australia staged a brilliant comeback to beat India by 37 runs in the tri-series cricket final and send 100,000 Indian fans into despair.

Defending a paltry 235 on a lightning-quick Eden Gardens, Australia looked well gone but claimed 6-39 to roll India for 198 in 41.5 overs.

The win - Australia's sixth from seven matches on tour - showed just how tough it is for rivals to complete the job against the world champions, particularly in big matches.

The win was also a triumph for Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who retained faith in his secondary bowlers despite India cruising at 2-99 with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in control.

Ponting stuck with the expensive Andy Bichel and the Queenslander responded by producing a superb off-cutter to bowl Tendulkar for 45 and open the door for his side.

When Andrew Symonds had Yuvraj Singh (four) caught at slip next over, the pendulum had swung Australia's way and Ponting's men gradually began to assert their control.

Dravid, the stand-in captain in the absence of injured Sourav Ganguly (groin), held the innings together with a fine 49 but he too was brought undone by a part-timer, as Michael Clarke's off-break squirted by Dravid's bat and onto off-stump.

Ajit Agarkar (26 not out) gave India some hope with two thumping sixes, but Ian Harvey cleaned up the tail around him and finished with 4-21.

Australia's total never looked enough after India's spinners reduced the innings to a crawl, Murali Kartik (1-30) and Harbhajan Singh (1-34) stifling the batsmen from the 25-over mark.

With the dashing top order back in the pavilion before the halfway mark, all Australia could do was prod and poke.

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