Australia fought back to make 5-216 from 32 overs in their rain-shortened one-day cricket match against India at the MCG.

The home side was in dire trouble at 2-25 in the 11th over after losing the toss on Sunday, but rallied on the back of Matthew Wade’s 67 in his one-day international debut and quick scoring from the Hussey brothers.

David Hussey blasted an unbeaten 61 from 30 balls, with four fours and three sixes, and Dan Christian, another Australian first-gamer, made 17no.

Michael Hussey scored 45 from 32 balls in the first match of the one-day tri-series that also features Sri Lanka.

Opening bowler Vinay Kumar (3-21 from seven overs) dismissed opener David Warner for six and Ricky Ponting for two as he and fellow opening bowler Praveen Kumar tied down the Australian top order.

Wade belted a six and a four off Praveen at the end of the 11th over to take the score to 35 and then the rain arrived.

Play was stopped for more than three overs as the groundstaff repeatedly took the covers off, only for the rain to return.

When the game resumed, Wade and captain Michael Clarke immediately tried to force the scoring.

But Clarke’s dismissal for 10 off Rohit Sharma left Australia on the brink at 3-49.

Wade and Michael Hussey then piled on 73 runs from only 50 balls to take back the game’s momentum.

Their entertaining stand ended when Wade chopped a Rahul Sharma delivery onto his stumps.

Vinay took his third wicket when Michael Hussey hit a ball down the throat of Virat Kohli at deep mid-wicket.

Rohit Sharma nearly took an outstanding catch in the deep off David Hussey late in the innings, but the ball jolted from his hands as he dove forward.

Rahul Sharma was two balls into his seventh over when the umpires realised he had exceeded his limit under the shortened format and Ravindra Jadeja bowled the next four balls.