Australia overcame beleaguered stand-in skipper Ricky Ponting’s fifth straight tri-series failure to post a challenging 5-288 in an innings of high-drama against India at the Gabba.

Ponting’s top-order position is on increasingly shaky ground after the former Test captain was all at sea and fell for seven in an uncharacteristically ugly 26-ball stay.

It leaves him with just 18 runs at a dire average of 3.6 in the series and on course for a break with regular skipper Michael Clarke expected to return from a hamstring injury this week.

Only an impressive century stand by Mike Hussey (59 off 52) and adopted Queenslander Peter Forrest (52 off 71) turned the tide for the home side to post a competitive score on a good batting wicket.

Late lusty hitting by Dan Christian (30 off 18) and David Hussey (26 off 20) then ensured India would face a tough chase as they blasted 65 off the last six overs.

India could only blame themselves for releasing the pressure on Australia at 3-131 off 31 overs as they dropped their bundle in the field.

After Australia won the toss, Rohit Sharma set the tone when he spilt opener Matthew Wade, who went on to make 45, at second slip off the third ball of the innings.

Worse was the fact Mike Hussey was dropped twice, on 13 and 32, while skipper MS Dhoni also failed to run out Forrest early in his knock.

The comedy of errors wasn’t restricted to the players though with the match officials involved in farcical scenes after third umpire Bruce Oxenford unwittingly giving Hussey out on one.

Dhoni appealed for a close stumping off Suresh Raina which was referred to Oxenford who hit the button for “OUT” to flash up on the scoreboard.

As Hussey made it half-way towards the dressing room, on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Steve Davis chased him down and told him he was indeed not out.

An unimpressed Dhoni argued with the officials who explained the initial call was a result of a technical malfunction.

India also had personnel worries with Sachin Tendulkar limping off after copping a nasty blow on the shin midway through the innings when an edge from Forrest fell short of him at slip.

But Tendulkar returned in the dying overs and watched as Christian ruined Vinay Kumar’s previously economical figures when he blasted four boundaries in a row in the 49th.

Irfan Pathan finished with 3-61 while Zaheer (1-46) proved most troubling but bowled without luck.