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TVS Cup Final

Wednesday, November 19 2003

TVS Cup Final – Australia v India at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

A late innings cameo & some tight spin bowling from Michael Clarke, aided by solid contributions from Ian Harvey & Damien Martyn, guided Australia to a 37 run win in the TVS cup final over India.

A predictably packed house gathered at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens to watch the red hot Australians take on India in a rematch of the world cup final played earlier this year.
Australia were heavy favourites heading into this encounter, having won every game since their initial defeat to India in game 2, meanwhile the home side suffered a further blow with captain Sourav Ganguly failing a fitness test on his groin strain several hours before the start of play, leaving Rahul Dravid to combine wicket-keeping duties with captaincy.

Ricky Ponting won the toss & elected to bat on a slow pitch expected to take spin as the match progressed.

India got off to a handy start, restricting Hayden & Gilchrist before the later was bowled by Ajit Agarkar for 7, skipper Ponting was then dropped by Laxman at slip from the first ball he faced, a feat the Indian repeated next over by putting Hayden down at point.

However the Queenslanders fortune was short-lived as he was out driving on the up at Zaheer Khan for 19, with Laxman finally holding on to one.

Damien Martyn then joined his captain & together they evoked memories of that world cup final with a brisk 80 run stand, however just as they looked like taking the game away from India Ponting edged to slip for 36 off the bowling of notable Australian tour discard Murali Kartik. Andrew Symonds failed to build any momentum on the slow surface, throwing his wicket away off the bowling of Harbhajan for 10. Martyn & Bevan were then tied down effectively by the three pronged spin attack of Singh, Kartik & Sehwag before Martyn attempted an ambitious drive only to lose his wicket t oSehwag for the 2nd time in the tournament for a well made 61(101 balls, 6 fours).

At this stage Australia were 5-170 in the 40th over & in danger of posting a well below par score, however Clarke (not for the first time in his short international carear to date) came to the rescue, spanking a rapid 44 not out from only 28 deliveries in partnership with Bevan (40 not out) to guide Australia to a competitive if not convincing 5-235.

Kartik was easily the pick of the Indian bowler with 1-30 from his 10, while Harbhajan (1-34) & Khan (1-29) also enjoyed some success.

With the pitch likely to take turn later in the innings, a big start was always going to be the key for India, however Nathan Bracken continued to be Virender Sehwag’s main nemesis, removing his with a great return catch from an inside edge for just 5.

Laxman was then involved in a fascinating battle with Brad Williams, edging the West Australian through slips for four & hitting some superb cover drives, Williams was clearly becoming frustrated & at one stage the umpires nearly had to get involved as he followed through one time to many.

However the Australian had the last say, removing Laxman’s off stump with a ball that kept low, the stylist gone for 22, leaving India 2-36.

Only a sensible stand between skipper Dravid & Tendulkar & some wayward bowling from Andy Bichel kept India in the game, however just as they were looking like taking it away from the tourists Tendulkar (45) lost his off stump to a jaffer from Bichel & Yuvraj Singh (4) edged to Hayden at slip off the bowling of Symonds to leave India 4-110. Enter Michael Clarke, his innocuous left arm spinners had already caused India much troubles in this tournament & so it proved again, first he bewitched Dravid for 49 before tempting Henang Badani into a false shot for 30, howeve ras soon as he had appeared the hero Clarke became the villan, spanked for 2 sixes by Ajit Agarkar.

Fortunately Australia had Ian Harvey up their sleeves, the allrounder came back to grab 4 wickets within the space of 8 balls, narrowly missing a hat-trick, as India were dismissed for 198.

Harvey with 4-21 & Clarke with 2-36 were Australia’s best , Clarke’s allround performance earning him the man of the match award.

Match Summary

Australia 5-235 (Martyn 61, Clarke 44*, Kartik 1-30)
India 198 (Dravid 49, Tendulkar 45, Harvey 4-21, Clarke 2-36)

Australia Won By 37 runs
Man of the Match: Michael Clarke

Posted by DavidH