Australia clung on for a four-run victory in a dramatic first Twenty20 clash with India in Brisbane.

The hosts reached 158-4 from 17 overs in a rain-affected innings, with India set a Duckworth Lewis target of 174 for victory.

A late charge from Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant almost carried them over the line, but ultimately they came up just short.

Aaron Finch (27) and Chris Lynn (37) got the ball rolling for Australia with the bat, and a 78-run partnership between Glenn Maxwell (46 off 24 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (33 not out off 19) added extra impetus as the hosts achieved a decent if not spectacular total.

Had Shikhar Dhawan received more support from the top order as he smashed 76 off 42 balls – including 10 fours and two sixes – then things might have turned out differently for India.

But it was not until he was out and Pant and Karthik teamed up that the tourists looked capable of mounting an unlikely comeback.

Having needed 60 runs off just 24 balls, the pair knocked off 36 in two overs before Pant fell for 20.

India went into the last over needing 13 runs for victory, but lost Krunal Pandya and then crucially Karthik – for 30 off just 13 balls – as Stoinis bowled Australia over the line.