Karthik, Dhoni rally India to 308/6

Dinesh Karthik's unbeaten century and his 211-run sixth-wicket partnership with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91) rallied India to 308 for six in their 50 overs after being 55 for five in their Champions Trophy warm-up game against Australia here Tuesday.

India had a disastrous start after winning the toss, losing the top half of their batting in 16.1 overs with only opener Shikhar Dhawan (17) and Rohit Sharma (10) getting into double figures.

Opener Murali Vijay (1), Virat Kohli (9), and Suresh Raina (0) failed to get going as they were rattled by the pace of the Australian new ball bowlers.

Unmindful of the start, Karthik, who had also hit a big hundred against Sri Lanka in the first warm-up match, and Dhoni farmed the bowling to post their 211-run stand in 30.2 overs at a rollicking rate of seven runs an over.

Karthik's 146 came off 140 balls with 17 fours and a six while Dhoni faced 77 deliveries and hit four sixes and six fours in his 91 before being caught by Mitchell Johnson to give James Faulkner his only wicket.

Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay claimed two wickets each while the other went to Johnson.

India play their first Group B match in the Champions Trophy against South Africa Thursday, second against the West Indies, June 11, and then Pakistan, June 15.

Brief score:

India 308 for six in 50 overs (Dinesh Karthik 146 not out, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 91, Mitchell Starc 2/73, Clint McKay 2/39) vs Australia.