Australia went from below-average to brilliant in the field in Adelaide to beat India by 18 runs in their one-day cricket match at the MCG.

The Australians dropped 15 catches during the just-completed Test series, and put down two catches early Friday night before it came right in the latter overs to make the difference.

India was dismissed for 270 off 49 overs in reply to Australia's 288 from 48.3 overs, in front of a capacity crowd of 63,271.

Andrew Symonds was man of the match, top-scoring with 88 and taking 2-47 from 10 overs.

The key wickets of Sachin Tendulkar, top-scorer Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh were all due to sharp pieces of fielding

Ganguly and Yuvraj had put on 62 for the fifth wicket and India was well-placed at 4-257 before Australia made a double breakthrough in the 46th over.

A great diving catch by Michael Clarke at mid-wicket off Ian Harvey removed Yuvraj for 25.

The next ball, new batsman Sanjay Bangar fended off a short ball from Harvey and took a couple of steps up the wicket.

Ganguly was halfway down the pitch but was sent back and Harvey pounced on the ball, running out the Indian captain at the non-striker's end with a direct hit.

India lost its last six wickets for 13 off 19 balls.

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