India beat Australia to win the CB series

India survived a valiant fightback from Australia to win a thrilling second Commonwealth Bank final by nine runs and claim the series 2-0.

Sachin Tendulkar made 91 in India's 258 for nine after winning the toss and batting, following his match-winning 117 not out in the first game at Sydney.

Praveen Kumar claimed four for 46, including the wickets of Adam Gilchrist (2) and Ricky Ponting (1) to have Australia reeling on eight for two, before the world champions took it down to the last over.

Irfan Pathan sealed the nine-run win, removing Nathan Bracken (1) and ending James Hopes' defiant 63-run innings in the space of four balls as Australia were bowled out for 249 in 49.4 overs.

Earlier on, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had run out Matthew Hayden (55), before trapping Andrew Symonds leg-before (42) to bring to an end an 89-run fourth-wicket stand.

Hopes hit a six in the penultimate over, leaving Australia needing 14 runs from six balls to level the series and force a third match in Adelaide, only for Pathan to hold his nerve, taking his first wickets of the finals series to spark Indian jubilation.

Gilchrist's last international match ended disappointingly after just three balls when he feathered Kumar to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.