Skipper Ricky Ponting made the big score he had been threatening throughout the tri-series as Australia extended its dominance of India in limited-overs finals at the MCG.

Ponting's 88 from only 80 balls ensured that Australia overhauled India's inadequate total of 222 with 10 overs remaining to win by seven wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Australia has now beaten India in eight of their nine meetings in one-day tournament finals, the most famous of which was last year's World Cup decider.

Ponting had made 223 runs at an average of 31.85 in the preliminary rounds of the tri-series, passing 50 only once.

But he was able to lift his input to match the occasion after Adam Gilchrist got the home side's run chase off to a flying start with 38 from just 20 balls.

Matthew Hayden filled the unfamiliar role of sheet anchor with 50 from 91 balls, before being the victim of an unusual caught and bowled decision.

He hit what appeared to the naked eye to be a bump ball back to Lakshmipathy Balaji, prompting only a muted appeal from the bowler.

Umpire Steve Bucknor referred the decision to third umpire Bob Parry, who gave Hayden out after close scrutiny of the slow motion replays, ending a 139-run partnership with his captain.

Ponting became Balaji's third victim shortly afterwards, edging to wicketkeeper Rahul Dravid before chastising himself most of the way back to the changing rooms for getting out when a 16th ODI hundred was there for the taking.

Damien Martyn (20 not out) and Andrew Symonds (10 not out) reached the target with a minimum of fuss.

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