Adelaide: Riding high on Gautam Gambhir's fabulous 92 runs knock and Dhoni's captainship innings, India routed the hosts by four wickets in the fourth match of the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. India achieved the target of 270 runs with two balls still remaining.

While chasing the target of 270 runs, Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave a steady start after the hosts were restricted to 269 for 8. India suffered first jolt in the form of Sehwag, who fell prey to McKay at 20 runs.

Kohli also went back to pavilion without making any significant contribution to the scoreboard after being caught on McKay's delivery at 18.   

Gambhir anchored the Indian innings on the other side and meticulously knitted the innings with 92 runs. He was declared Man of the Match.

The Indians needed 13 runs from the last over and Dhoni hit a huge six -- 112m -- from the third ball off Clint McKay to swing the game in India's favour. The subsequent ball turned out to be a no-ball and that made the task easier for the Indians.

This is the highest-ever chase India have managed against any side in Australia. Their previous best was 263 against New Zealand in Brisbane in 1986. India's best chase against Australia was 242 for four in Sydney in 2008.

It still was a touch and go when Raina departed in the 47th over and the equation was down to 27 runs from the final three overs. Some brisk running brought it down to 17 from the final two overs.

Xavier Doherty bowled the penultimate over and gave only four runs, claiming Ravindra Jadeja (12) to a catch in the deep. It was now down to 13 from the final over.

The Indian skipper, who batted slowly but assuredly, remained unbeaten on 44 of 58 balls with a solitary six.

Ealier, the Australian side chose to bat after winning toss and discovered a star in debutant Peter Forrest, who played a quality knock of 66, which wasn't the top score, but it restructured the innings at a critical time for them.

He, along with top-scorer David Hussey (72), provided the base with a 98-run fourth wicket stand after Australia, electing to bat, were breathing hard at 81 for 3 in the 18th over.

Indians came back remarkably in the final 10 overs, conceding 57 runs. The last five cost the visitors only 33 runs as all the three medium-pacers, Zaheer Khan (1 for 46), Umesh Yadav (2 for 49) and Vinay Kumar (2 for 58) did a fine job. The visitors also effected three run-outs in the park.

Forrest was delightful with his footwork against spinners and stroked five fours and two sixes before holing out in the midwicket region off Umesh Yadav in the 36th over.

He began with a firm square cut off Vinay Kumar and took a liking for the spinners, twice smashing off-side fours off successive balls against Ravichandran Ashwin.

The clever mix of pace by Ravindra Jadeja held no terror for him as he once lifted him over sight-screen which was amazing given the length of the straight Adelaide Oval boundary.

There was another six by him, off the part-time off-spin of Rohit Sharma, as he faced 83 balls for his 66 runs.

Hussey took time to get his bearing and belted a four off only the 24th ball he faced. But then he followed it up with two more to make it three-in-row in Ravichandran Ashwin's fifth over.

(With PTI inputs)