India Win Last-Ball Thriller to Sweep T20 Series vs Australia, Become No.1

In a stunning run chase India won their third and final Twenty20 match against Australia off the last ball on Sunday to take the series 3-0. (All AP and AFP images)

Australia made a formidable 197 for five but India replied with 200 for three against an inexperienced attack.

They needed 17 to win off the last over and Suresh Raina hit a boundary off the final ball for victory.

Stand-in Australian skipper Shane Watson, who had scored an unbeaten century and also claimed the vital wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, appeared to have won his side the match when he conceded just five runs from the 19th over.

But rookie bowler Andrew Tye (0-51) could not handle the pressure in the 20th. The first two balls went for a four and six from Yuvraj Singh (15 not out), paving the way for Raina's last-ball heroics.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli again led the Indian batting, both posting half-centuries.

For much of the chase India looked to have the target under control after taking full advantage of some wayward bowling by paceman Shaun Tait (0-46). But Sharma (52) and Kohli (50) both fell to Boyce as the match tightened up.

The much-maligned Watson led from the front for Australia in a masterful solo performance.

He probably played himself into Australia's squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup with his unbeaten 124 from 71 balls, the second-highest score in the format at international level.

The 34-year-old was promoted to the captaincy due to the injury-enforced absence of Aaron Finch and opened the batting. Dropped on 56 by Kohli, he hit six sixes and posted the biggest T20 international score by an Australian.

Courtesy their 3-0 series sweep, India replaced West Indies as the No.1 T20I side.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni credited his bowling arsenal for series win, saying they delivered the extra 10 per cent that was missing in the preceding ODI series.