Australia v India, CB Series, 2nd final, Brisbane

**SiLenT ScReaM** · 04-03-2008, 07:46 PM

Tendulkar and Praveen inspire India to series triumph

India 9 for 258 (Tendulkar 91, Bracken 3-31, Clarke 3-52) beat Australia 249 (Hopes 61, Hayden 55, Praveen 4-46) by 9 runs

Toss India, who chose to bat first
Series India won the best-of-3-finals 2-0

Player of the match P Kumar (India)
Player of the series NW Bracken (Australia)

Praveen Kumar won the Man-of-the-Match award for his 4 for 46 as India beat Australia by nine runs in a thriller in Brisbane to lift the CB Series.

In the final installment of its 29-year existence, a series that has become a part of Australia's summer culture came to a climactic end with a fitting humdinger at the Gabba.

Twenty three years after India's last significant limited-overs title in Australia, Sachin Tendulkar helped script another memorable chapter with an innings of skill and determination. There was to be no repeat of his twin centuries against Australia in 1998, but his 91 set up a total which, backed by Praveen Kumar's subtle-swinging accuracy, proved nine runs too much for Australia.

In a game that ebbed and flowed wonderfully, James Hopes took Australia agonisingly close to victory with his maiden fifty after Praveen returned from an 11-run 45th over to snap a threatening eight-wicket stand. Back when Australia dominated this tournament regularly Steve Waugh earned the moniker 'Ice Man' and under starry skies Hopes and Praveen gave it a modern context.

Hopes battled on with comfortable sweeps against the spinners and some deft placement down the ground. There was not a trace of emotion on face as he raised his fifty. Similarly, having given up 11 runs in his penultimate over, Praveen displayed awesome composure to bowl a three-run 47th, cleaning up Brett Lee