India to chase 240 in the First final …

India will chase 240 for victory in game one of the Commonwealth Bank Series finals after Australia overcame a horror start to post a competitive total at the SCG.

A Matthew Hayden half-century and cameos from Andrew Symonds (31), Michael Hussey (45), Brad Hogg (23 not out) and Brett Lee (17) lifted the home side to a respectable tally after it had been 3-24 early.

Hogg and Mitchell Johnson (six) remained the not out batsmen.

Australia won the toss and batted but - apart from a 100-run partnership between Hayden and Symonds - never looked completely comfortable on a pitch offering some assistance to the bowlers.

Hayden (82 from 88 balls) was the only batsman to pass 50.

Mini partnerships between Hussey and James Hopes (15) and Hussey and Hogg helped lift Australia past the 200 mark.

Adam Gilchrist, in his final appearance at the SCG, was the first batsman to go.

He made his way to seven before attempting to pull a ball that wasn't quite there from swing bowler Praveen Kumar (2-49).

Yuvraj Singh, running back at mid-on, took a well-judged catch to leave Australia 1-16.

Ricky Ponting made just one before he dragged Kumar onto his stumps attempting an ill-advised pull shot.

Australia's fortunes slumped even further when Michael Clarke (four) was given out caught behind off Ishant Sharma (1-32) with the score on 24.

Hayden and Symonds combined to turn Australia's fortunes around after a disastrous start, but their century stand came to an end in the 24th over.

Taking on Harbhajan Singh (2-38), Symonds swatted a catch to Kumar at deep mid-wicket.

Singh, who had indulged in a war of words with Hayden during the week, exacted revenge when he removed the big Queenslander 11 runs later.

Hayden swept Singh into the outfield where Piyush Chawla clung onto a superb catch running in from deep backward square leg. Australia was back in trouble at 5-135.

Hussey and Hopes put on a tidy 38-run partnership before Hopes edged Yurav Singh (1-18) to MS Dhoni behind the stumps.

Hussey, Hogg and Lee - who belted three consecutive fours in Irfan Pathan's final over - did well late in the innings to set-up a sizeable total.