Australia level Test series with India

Matthew Hayden reached his half century as his partnership with Ricky Ponting helped Australia clinch the third Test against …

Matthew Hayden reached his half century as his partnership with Ricky Ponting helped Australia clinch the third Test against India with a nine-wicket win in Melbourne today.

India had scored 366 and 286 in their two innings, with Australia having scored 558 in their first innings and needing 95 runs to win the match.

Ponting had been the hero in the first innings as he notched up a staggering 257, and once again he played an important part of Australia's success in day five as they took 22.2 overs to seal their win.

Despite losing Justin Langer (2) to lbw off Ajit Agarkar early on, the result was never in doubt. Hayden reached 53 and Ponting hit 31 as Australia scored 97 to level the four-Test series at 1-1, with the final Test starting on Friday in Sydney.