INDIA CHALLENGE AUSTRALIA'S SUPREMACY

India created history by notching up their first-ever cricket tri-series title on Australian soil by pipping the world champions by nine runs in a nail-biting second finals which saw fortune fluctuating from one team to the other till the very end. The series win came after a long hiatus of 23 years after a hard fought series that made headlines on the ground as well as off it.

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

Defending a target of 259 after Sachin Tendulkar's classy 91, India made a fine start as Praveen Kumar (four for 46) removed Adam Gilchrist - playing his final international innings - Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.

Matthew Hayden (55) and Andrew Symonds (42) put on 89 and James Hopes (63) threatened to see Australia home until Irfan Pathan struck twice in the final over.

These moments come hard in a cricketer's career. Going to Australia and winning a tournament must have began as a distant dream for Dhoni's men, but it turned out to be a reality. India clinched the humdinger of a second final against Australia and with it, won a one-day tournament for the first time in 23 years.

Indian captain MS Dhoni Tuesday said the Commonwealth Bank tri-series win was "important because this is the building stage of my team".

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Dhoni said he was proud of the way his team had performed in "the toughest conditions and against the toughest team in the world".

This will challenge Australia's dominance in world cricket and India's impressive show during the Australian Summer proved that the Oz are not invincible .