INDIA wrapped up the triangular one-day international cricket competition when the side beat Australia by nine runs to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the best-of-three finals series in Brisbane, Australia, on Tuesday.

Sachin Tendulkar scored 91 as India made 258-9 from its 50 overs at the Gabba in Brisbane, then Praveen Kumar took 4 wickets to help dismiss the hosts for 249.

It’s the second straight year world champion Australia has lost in the final of a home tri-nations one-day tournament after England won in 2007. India took the opening match two days ago by six wickets, with Tendulkar hitting a record-extending 42nd one-day international century. The 34-year-old faced 121 balls and shared a 94-run opening stand with Robin Uthappa, who scored 30. Yuvraj Singh made 38 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni added 36 to provide further support, before Tendulkar’s dismissal sparked a collapse.

Matthew Hayden, with 55 runs, and Andrew Symonds, 42, led a recovery with an 89-run partnership before both lost their wickets in an over from Harbhajan Singh.

Symonds was making a big impact with his bat, but made an even bigger one with his shoulder when he tackled a streaker who made the mistake of running too close to the burly Queenslander.

The man ran onto the pitch, naked, and toward Symonds as he attempted to evade chasing police and ground security staff.

Symonds stood his ground and leaned into the streaker in a rugby-style shoulder charge, dropping him instantly to the ground in the 10th over of Australia’s reply.

The streaker, Robert Ogilvie, was later handed a US$1,500 fine after pleading guilty to willful exposure. He insisted he had no regrets about his on-field romp, saying it was “great’’ when Symonds smashed him to the turf.

Queensland police said they were not investigating Symonds over the incident. Cricket Australia officials also said Symonds would face no penalty over the incident. (SD-Agencies)