MOHALI, Oct 19: Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from the front by smashing an unbeaten 139 as India recovered from a poor start to post 303-9 in the third One-day International against Australia here on Saturday.

Dhoni came to the rescue after the home side had plummeted to 76-4 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, striking 12 boundaries and five sixes during his 121-ball innings

The Indian skipper was involved in two significant partnerships — putting on a solid 72-run stand for the fifth wicket with Virat Kohli (68) before joining hands with Ravichandran Ashwin (28) to put up 76 for the seventh wicket.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was again the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for 46.

Put in to bat, India lost openers Rohit Sharma (11) and Shikhar Dhawan (8) with 37 on the board before Australia made further inroads when Johnson sent back Suresh Raina (17) and Yuvraj Singh off successive deliveries.

Kohli then fell to Glenn Maxwell for a patient 68 off 73 balls, laced with nine fours.

Johnson then left the hosts reeling at 154-6 by getting rid of Ravindra Jadeja for two before Dhoni changed gears to single-handedly guide India to a 300-plus total in the end.

He was severe on James Faulkner as the left-arm paceman conceded 21 runs.—Agencies.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

R.G. Sharma c Finch b Watson 11

S. Dhawan c Haddin b McKay 8

V. Kohli c Haddin b Maxwell 68

S.K. Raina c Watson b Johnson 17

Yuvraj Singh c Haddin b Johnson 0

M.S. Dhoni not out 139

R.A. Jadeja c Haddin b Johnson 2

R. Ashwin c Haddin b Johnson 28

B. Kumar c Bailey b Faulkner 10

R. Vinay Kumar run out 0

I. Sharma not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-13, W-7) 20

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 303

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-37, 3-76, 4-76, 5-148, 6-154, 7-230, 8-267, 9-299.

BOWLING: Johnson 10-1-46-4 (4w); McKay 10-0-49-1; Watson 8-0-74-1 (3w); Faulkner 10-0-65-1; Doherty 10-0-45-0; Voges 1-0-3-0; Maxwell 1-0-8-1.

AUSTRALIA: A.J. Finch, P.J. Hughes, S.R. Watson, G.J. Bailey, A.C. Voges, G.J. Maxwell, B.J. Haddin, J.P. Faulkner, M.G. Johnson, C.J. McKay, X.J. Doherty.

UMPIRES: C. Shamsuddin (India) and R.A. Kettleborough (England).

TV UMPIRE: A.K. Chaudhary (India).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).