Australian captain Ricky Ponting was a relieved man following his country's nail-biting four-run victory over India in their seven-match one-day series opener in Vadodara on Sunday.
The visitors looked to be in cruise control when they had the Indians reeling at 7-201 and requiring another 93 runs from just 61 balls to win.
But tail-enders Harbhajan Singh (49) and Praveen Kumar (40 not out) reinvigorated the hosts' cause with a record eighth-wicket partnership worth 84 runs.
Things were getting tense for Australia as India headed into the final over needing nine runs to claim a memorable first-up win.
Peter Siddle, who had leaked 13 runs in the 48th over, bowled Harbhajan with the second delivery of the final over and conceded only four runs as India's response fell just short.
"It was a terrific game of cricket in the end and we would have been disappointed had we lost," he said.
"They kept fighting until the last ball and Harbhajan got them really close, but we are obviously happy we are 1-0 up."
"Our performance was pretty good until the last six or seven overs of the game."
"We did a good job batting first to get to that sort of total, but we knew that they could chase it down because the outfield was so fast and the wicket held up pretty well right through the course of the game."
"The ball swung around a bit in the morning, but we expected that and perhaps it was a good toss to win."
"We started well with the ball and had them under pressure earlier on, but I think we were just good enough to get across the line."
The eighth-wicket pair had clobbered Shane Watson for 20 runs in the penultimate over, setting the stage for a gripping final over.
Ponting said he had instructed Siddle to stay focused.
"I told him to be really calm and to have just one single thought and not to get confused with what he's trying to do," Ponting said.
"He executed it really well in the end."
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his top-order batsmen would have to improve.
Ponting top-scored with a knock of 74, while opener Tim Paine made a steady half-century, Cameron White chipped in with 51 and Michael Hussey scored 73 off just 54 deliveries as Australia amassed a commanding 8-292.
India replied with a half-century from Gautam Gambhir (68) and useful knocks from Virat Kohli (30) and Dhoni (34), but their dismissals in quick succession left the home side needing 92 from the last 10 overs.
Harbhajan and Kumar revived the chase but ultimately too much was left to the unrecognised batsmen to do.
Despite the defeat, Dhoni believed India would bounce back.
"You would expect matches to be this close when the two top teams play at this level," Dhoni said.
"There will be ups and downs through the series."
"But our bowling at the death has to improve and we need the top batsmen to contribute."
"If you look at it, only Gambhir got a half-century and when you are chasing 290-odd you need the top order to fire."
"We are learning and we have the experience in the side for us to bounce back."
"We would have been happier chasing around 270, especially on a track like this."
"It got a bit slower and lower towards the end and they bowled really well in the middle overs with the old ball."
"We lost four wickets in the powerplay and after that we were really out of the game until Harbhajan and Praveen brought us back."
"It was the contribution from the lower order which really got us that close."