Newcomer Peter Forrest and David Hussey posted half-centuries as Australia set India 270 runs to win Sunday’s one-day match at Adelaide Oval.

Forrest made 66 on international debut and Hussey top-scored with 72 as Australia compiled 8-269 from 50 overs.

The duo featured in a 98-run partnership in a reshuffled batting order against an Indian side missing resting star Sachin Tendulkar.

Forrest batted at number four, veteran Ricky Ponting opened the innings with David Warner, and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade slid down the order to number seven.

Ponting made just six while captain Michael Clarke, elevated to first drop, arrived in sparkling form and raced to 21 from his initial 13 deliveries in partnership with Warner.

But Warner, who was dropped on the third ball of the match when Indian skipper MS Dhoni turfed an inside edge, was run out for 18 in a mix-up with Clarke.

Warner struck a cover drive but Rohit Sharma, diving to his left, fielded as the Australian pair found themselves at the striker’s end.

Clarke made 38 from 43 balls but was fooled by a slower ball from Umesh Yadav (2-44), edging onto his stumps to leave Australia 3-81 in the 18th over.

Forrest and Hussey united for an innings-high partnership, with the debutant smacking two towering straight sixes.

After Forrest fell, caught at deep midwicket, the reliable Hussey, whose 72 came from just 76 balls, put on 56 runs with allrounder Dan Christian (39) at better than a run-a-ball.