Damien Martyn hit a solid 100 to help world champions Australia post a challenging 286-8 against India in a TVS Cup triangular one-day series match here on Wednesday.

The middle-order batsman struck one six and 10 fours in his fifth century to spoil India's chances of restricting the tourists to a modest total in the day-night game on a slow turning pitch.

Martyn put on 78 for the fourth wicket with Andrew Symonds (48) and 111 for the next with Michael Bevan (42) before becoming seamer Ajit Agarkar's one of the three victims in the last over of the match.

Martyn paced his innings remarkably well, initially relying more on singles and twos before going for big strokes. He reached his half-century off 84 balls, but took just 34 more deliveries to complete his hundred.

He opened up after completing his fifty, lofting leg-spinner Anil Kumble for a six to set the stage of the closing-overs onslaught.

Australia were indebted to Martyn for finishing strongly after opener Adam Gilchrist had provided a blistering start with a 30-ball 41.

The tourists plundered 54 in the opening five overs and 76 in the last 10, thanks to Gilchrist and Martyn.

Australia were in for a surprise after electing to bat.

Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan began with a freak over, sending down one no-ball and three wides before unsettling Matthew Hayden (nought) with a rising delivery.

The left-hander was taken aback, spooning it to point where Yuvraj Singh held an easy catch.

India captain Rahul Dravid then made an unusual move, summoning part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to share the new ball with Zaheer.

Sehwag was punished by Gilchrist, conceding 14 runs in his opening over before being replaced with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan soon had free-stroking Gilchrist caught cutting by Mohammad Kaif in the cover, but Australia kept maintaining an impressive run-rate despite losing the hard-hitting openers.

Skipper Ricky Ponting (31) tried to steady the innings with Martyn, but did not last long. He looked a bit surprised when given out leg-before by England umpire Niel Mallender.

The run-rate did not decline as Symonds and Martyn continued the good job.

Symonds was more aggressive, hoisting left-arm spinner Yuvraj over long-off for a six before falling in a bid to step up the scoring. He was caught pulling Yuvraj at deep mid-wicket after hitting one six and four boundaries.

There was no stopping Martyn, who continued to gather runs confortably with Bevan.