BRETT Lee entered last night's one-dayer under pressure to keep his place but walked away as the hero with the ball ... and bat.
After being put to the sword by India's batsmen during the summer, Lee took two wickets but ultimately secured the two-wicket win for Australia in the rain-shortened match at the SCG with a lofty six in the last over of the night.
Australia, chasing a revised score of 225 in 34 overs, needed nine runs off the last four balls. Lee, after stealing two runs off a misfield, smashed a six over extra cover and then sprinted the winning single.
The win looked unattainable when Yuvraj Singh made 139 off 122 balls to lead India to 4-296 in their innings. But a blistering start by the Australians and a rain delay -- lengthened after ground staff struggled to open a gate to get the covers on to the pitch in teeming rain -- gave the home side a sniff.
It was a fitting way to end a match played in honour of former Test and one-day star David Hookes, who no doubt would have appreciated the shot.