Australia's Stuart Clark (left) celebrates after India's Mohammed Kaif (centre) is bowled while Rahul Dravid looks on during their Tri-Series cricket match in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. - Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR (CMC):

West Indies' opponents in the final of the three-nation one-day international series tomorrow will be World Champions Australia.

Brett Lee captured five wickets for 38 runs from 8.5 overs in the sixth and final preliminary match yesterday at the Kinrara Academy Oval to help Australia confirm a place in the championship decider with an 18-run victory over India.

India were dismissed for 195 in 43.5 overs, chasing 214 to win from their allocation of 50 overs.

Stuart Clark supported Lee with two for 36 from eight overs and Brad Hogg took two for 48 from 10 overs.

Dinesh Mongia, playing his first ODI in 18 months, hit the top score for India of 63 off 90 balls that included five boundaries.

No other Indian batsman passed 30, but a few got starts without carrying on - Suresh Raina scored 26, Mahendra Dhoni made 23, and Mohammed Kaif got 21.

India never fully recovered, after Lee removed Sachin Tendulkar for four and Virender Sehwag for 10, and Clark added the wickets of Mohammed Kaif and Indian captain Rahul Dravid for seven.

Tendulkar fails to shine

Tendulkar had been called back by umpire Mark Benson, after he had been dubiously adjudged caught behind hooking at McGrath, but failed to make the most of his reprieve.

India were 50 for four in the 13th over, and though Mongia batted responsibly and gained support from Raina and Dhoni with whom he added 62 for the sixth wicket, they could not safely navigate their way through the closing stages.

Earlier, the Australians were dismissed for 213 in 48.1 overs, after choosing to bat on a hard, true pitch under overcast skies.

Matthew Hayden hit nine boundaries in the top score of 54 from 66 balls and gave the innings early momentum.

After he was the third man out, Australia slid to 117 for six through a combination of discipline from India's bowlers and carelessness from the World champions.

A seventh-wicket stand of 77 between Brad Haddin, whose 46 from 63 balls contained one four and four sixes, and Brad Hogg, with 38 off 49 balls that included two fours and one six, revived the Australians.