Bangalore, Sep 29: A spoilsport weather god poured cold water on the proceedings as the first India-Australia one dayer of the seven-match cricket series was called off due to wet outfield here tonight. Batting first, Australia slumped to 90 for four wickets before Michael Clarke (130) and Brad Haddin (69) forged a 144-run stand to power the side to an imposing 307 for seven. In reply, India lost Sachin Tendulkar (0) in the second over and were nine for one in 2.4 overs when heavy shower dropped curtains on the proceedings.

"We waited almost till the cut-off time and the Australians too were keen to play. But we had a good look at the circle and decided conditions were not fit for a play," umpire Suresh Shastri said. Both the sides now move to Kochi for the second match on Tuesday. Set an uphill task of getting 308 for a win, disaster struck India as early as in the second over when Mitchell Johnson swung one that rapped Tendulkar on his pads and umpire Suresh Shastri upheld the appeal.

This was a huge blow, considering Tendulkar was in red hot form in the England tour and here he was out for a six ball duck. Australia had started their defence of the total with a maiden over from Brett Lee that put Gautam Gambhir firmly in straitjacket. His pace colleague Johnson sized up Tendulkar in his first over and kept him silent for the first five balls before sending down the sixth for a wide, with which India opened their account. And the pacer more than made up with the next delivery which trapped Tendulkar sending groans across the stadium. Gambhir hit Lee for a four and the innings was into its third over when heavy shower sent the players and match officials scurrying for covers.

Earlier, Clarke thrived in his happy hunting ground at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he had scored a Test century on his debut in 2004, and struck a blistering 130 off 132 balls as Australia overcame early jitters to post a mammoth 307. Clarke notched up his third ODI century before being run out in the final delivery. His well-paced innings was studded with 10 fours and three sixes. He found an able partner in Brad Haddin whose 69 came off 83 balls that included seven fours and a six. S Sreesanth was pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 3-55.

Thanks to Sreesanth's three-wicket burst, India had the visitors on the mat, with Australia reeling at 90 for four, but Clarke first stitched together a 60-run stand with Matthew Hayden (34) and then added 144 runs in 25.2 overs with Brad Haddins (69) to prop up the innings. Down the order, James Hopes threw his bat at everything to garner 37 runs off 25 balls to swell the tally. Adam Gilchrist won the toss and it was probably India's poor record while chasing that prompted him to bat first. Gilchrist, however, could not vindicate his decision and fell to a stunning catch pouched by Yuvraj Singh at point for 12.

Zaheer Khan, who had begun his first over with a wide, pitched the first ball of his second delivery full and outside the off-stump as Gilchrist went for a wild swish. Yuvraj, however, dived to right, his wrong side, to pull off a beauty and it was all over for hard-hitting batsman. Sreesanth too struck in his second over. The speedster looked erratic as he began the over with two wides in a row before trapping Brad Hodge with a peach of a delivery that pitched outside off and jagged in to beat Hodge's prodding bat and hit him plumb in front. At 18 for two, Australia were in for some early trouble. Clarke and Hayden looked cagey before the opener opened up. The towering Hayden hit RP Singh for two fours in the 10th over and again in RP's next over, the left-hander drove the bowler for a four and swivelled one for the maximum in the next delivery.

Sreesanth, however, cut short Hayden's stay and castled the batsman with one that swung in to hit the top of his middle stump. The Kerala speedster compounded the visitors' problems in his next over with a slower ball, delivered from the back of his hand, which foxed Andrew Symonds and caught him leg before. Australia seemed in a mess at 90 for four. Both Clarke and Haddins were at sea against Ramesh Powar's guiles but the duo somehow hung around, keeping the scoreboard ticking with singles on offer, apart from the occasional boundaries.

They soon grew in confidence and did not hesitate to give the occasional charge to the hosts. India took the new ball after 35 overs but even that seemed to have no effect on the Australians who went about their job with single-minded determination. Yuvraj eventually removed Haddin after his 83-ball 69 but by then, Australia had not only overcome the jitters but also on course for a commanding total. (Agencies)