Australia cruise past India

Australia have continued their recent dominance over India with a resounding 31-run victory in the first KFC Twenty20 International staged at ANZ Stadium.

In front of 59,659 fans - a new record attendance for a single day's cricket in NSW - a hard-hitting half-century from rookie wicketkeeper Matthew Wade propelled the hosts to a competitive 4-171 after India won the toss and elected to bowl in overcast conditions.

The tourists lost four quick wickets early in their run chase and never recovered, struggling to 6-140 to trail 1-0 in the two-match series.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni top scored with 48 not out off 43 deliveries, but it was too little too late for the visitors.

Dan Christian (2-35) and David Hussey (2-4) were the multiple wicket-takers, while in-form veteran Brad Hogg (1-21 off four overs) was arguably the pick of the Australian bowlers.

India lost Virender Sehwag (four), Gautam Gambhir (20), Virat Kohli (22) and Rohit Sharma (zero) to slump to 4-52 in the eighth over.

Sehwag lasted four deliveries before he edged a Brett Lee (1-36) thunderbolt to David Hussey at slip.

Gambhir looked dangerous before spooning a catch to Mitchell Marsh at cover off Hussey to depart for 20, while Kohli was gone moments later when he was well caught by David Warner on the boundary off Hogg.

The carnage continued when Rohit Sharma was bowled by Hussey for a duck three balls later.

And when Suresh Raina was clean bowled by Christian for 14, victory was all but assured for the hosts despite Dhoni's late cameo.

Earlier, Wade made the most of his selection, smashing a brilliant 72 off 43 deliveries.

He blasted five fours and three sixes before he was bowled by Raina (1-22) in the 15th over, shortly after play resumed following a 20-minute rain delay.

Hussey added a valuable 42 off 30, including three towering sixes, after Warner earlier whipped the bumper crowd into a frenzy with a rapid 25 off 14 deliveries.

Warner produced a massive switch-hit six off Ravi Ashwin (0-34) in the third over and followed up with another huge six down the ground to get the hosts off to a flyer.

Travis Birt (17) picked up where Warner left off, hammering Vinay Kumar (1-28) down the ground for six to bring up Australia's half-century.

But the Tasmanian's promising knock ended when he hit an Ashwin full toss straight to cover off the final ball of the 10th over.

Wade continued to throw the bat, bringing up his 50 - and Australia's hundred - with a six off Ravindra Jadeja (0-23) before rain stopped play in the 15th over.

Hussey kept the scoreboard humming with a six over cow corner at the resumption to move the hosts past 150 before he was bowled by Rahul Sharma late in the innings.