Desert storm Tendulkar leaves Australia in disarray

The crowd went berserk as India kept up a brilliant chase marked by a superb 120-run third wicket stand between Tendulkar and Azharuddin (58: 64b, 5×4) to pull off the revenge win and ensure the law of averages caught up on the Aussies as well.

Both fell victims to appalling decisions by Pakistan umpire Javed Akhtar on the verge of the scintillating win as the frustrated Australian bowlers went up in a chorus of appeals. But Ajay Jadeja (11 notout) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (6 not out) rattled up the last few runs with the latter smashing a four to signal victory in style.

Tendulkar once again revealed his genius by working away the ball with contemptuous ease, revealing superb temperament as he did in his memorable 142 in the last league tie against the Aussies to pull India into the summit clash, before cutting the attack to ribbons.

He had no challengers as he walked away with the titles of Player of the Tournament — worth an Opel car — and Man of the Match besides claiming the honours for scoring the most number of sixes.

Fellow opener Saurav Ganguly (23: 42b, 2×4) fell early but Nayan Mongia (28: 41b, 3×4) came off from taking the four catches in the Australian innings by once again proving his immense value on being promoted.

The dapper stumper brilliantly rotated the strike and set up a breezy 89-run partnership with Tendulkar before being dismissed at the halfway mark — 125 for two — for Azharuddin to come and take over fromthere.

Tendulkar, who brought up his 100 off 103 balls (10×4, 1×6) in the 37th over, then cut loose to narrow the target as Azharuddin at the other end kept picking timely fours to reduce any pressure that was building up.

But the little champion fell to a horrendous leg before decision by Akhtar as Kasprowicz, taken apart by the batsman who had just smashed him for a straight six, went round the wicket. The ball seemed to clearly miss off-stump and the shocked Tendulkar walked back to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd.

India, 248 in the 45th over at his loss, were reduced to 261 for four as Azharuddin — who survived a close leg before call against Shane Warne — was adjudged caught behind down the legside off Kasprowicz when the only fit case seemed to be declaring the ball wide.

But India, under pressure to erase the nightmare they endured last time in December, kept their cool to completely make up for the fumble in the Pepsi Cup final at home and pocket $40,000 and the goodwill of theexpatriates who packed the venue.

Australian medium-pacer Damien Fleming (2-47) once again was a picture of tantrums as he kept appealing for leg before decisions only to be routinely turned down by the umpires and match referee Talat Ali of Pakistan who was swift to censure Harbhajan Singh was expected to take note of his dissent.

SCOREBOARD

Australia: Mark Waugh c Mongia b Agarkar 7, Adam Gilchrist c Mongia b Kanitkar 45, Ricky Ponting c Mongia b Prasad 1, Tom Moody c Mongia b Agarkar 1, Michael Bevan run out 45, Steve Waugh c Agarkar b Kanitkar 70, Darren Lehmann c Sanghvi b Kumble 70, Damien Martyn run out 16, Shane Warne not out 6, Michael Kasprowicz c Kanitkar b Prasad 0, Damien Fleming not out 1; Extras (b 4, lb 3, nb 1, w 2): 10.

Total (for nine wickets, in 50 overs): 272

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-19, 3-26, 4-85, 5-121, 6-224, 7-255, 8-263, 9-264.

Bowling: Prasad 10-1-32-2, Agarkar 8-0-61-2, Kumble 10-1-46-1, Kanitkar 10-0-58-2, Sanghvi 10-0-45-0, Laxman1-0-11-0, Tendulkar 1-0-12-0

India: Saurav Ganguly c Moody b Fleming 23, Sachin Tendulkar lbw Kasprowicz 134, Nayan Mongia c Gilchrist b Fleming 28, Mohammed Azharuddin c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 58, Ajay Jadeja not out 11, Hrishikesh Kanitkar not out 6; Extras (b1, lb7, w5, nb2) 15.

Total (for four wickets in 48.3 overs) 275.

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-128, 3-248, 4-261.

Bowling: Damien Fleming 10-1-47-2, Mike Kasprowicz 10-0-48-2, Shane Warne 10-0-61-0, Tom Moody 9.3-0-63-0, Mark Waugh 3-0-30-0, Steve Waugh 6-0-28-0.

Result: India won by six wickets.

Man of the final: Sachin Tendulkar.

Player of the tournament: Sachin Tendulkar.