India v Australia, TVS Cup final, Kolkata

The spin twins

S Rajesh

November 18, 2003

Though the Indians failed to finish the job with the bat, their spinners once again proved the Australians' fallibility against the turning ball. Harbhajan Singh showed a welcome return to form, but the outstanding bowler for India was Murali Kartik, whose control over flight, length and change of pace was quite exceptional. Fifty-eight of the 60 balls he bowled pitched either on a good length or was slightly short. The Australians did put away deliveries which were even slightly off length - 12 runs came off the 10 deliveries which were slightly short - but the 48 good-length balls cost him just 17.

The period when Kartik and Harbhajan bowled in tandem was the best for the Indians - in 15 overs, just 52 came off the bat. At a time in the innings when singles should have been easy pickings, the Australians managed just 20 from those 90 deliveries. Instead, the dot ball was the staple, with 59 of them being sent down. The two bowlers hauled back India's cause after Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn threatened to put together the kind of partnership which had shut India out of the World Cup final. Unfortunately for India, though, a limp effort with the bat ensured that the spinners' effort came to naught.

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Stories

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Verdict - Silver lining, touch of grey

Matches

India v Australia at Kolkata

Players/Umpires

Harbhajan Singh

Murali Kartik

Series/Tournaments

TVS Cup (India)

Teams

Australia

India

Grounds

Eden Gardens