Adelaide, Jan 25 (IANS) Spin duo Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh smashed fine half-centuries Friday to establish several personal milestones on the second day of the fourth and final Test against Australia here.
Defying the Australian bowling attack for 35 overs, Kumble (87, 205 balls, 9x4s) and Harbhajan (63, 103 balls, 7x4s) also scored 107 precious runs for the eighth wicket to help India to 526 in their first innings at the Adelaide Oval.
The pair became the first to be associated in a 100-run partnership for this wicket against Australia here, obliterating the 96-run stand between Eddie Paynter and Hedley Verity for England in 1932-33.
Overall, the Kumble-Harbhajan partnership is India’s third best against Australia. The top two are the 129-run stand between Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan in the second Test of the ongoing series in Sydney and 127 between Syed Kirmani and Karsan Ghavri in Mumbai in 1979-80.
Of the three eighth wicket partnerships of 100-plus for India against Australia, Harbhajan figures in two. His half-century is his second fifty against Australia and his fourth overall.
Harbhajan’s aggregate of 135 (average 27.00) is his best in a Test series, eclipsing his tally of 102 (average 34.00) in two Tests against Zimbabwe in 2001. For the first time in his Test career, Harbhajan has recorded two fifties in a Test series.
Kumble (87) registered his highest Test score as captain and his first half-century as captain, eclipsing his 45 not out in Sydney earlier this month. The right-hander’s innings – his first half-century against Australia – is his fifth in Tests and is now the second best by an India captain at this venue. Mohammad Azharuddin had made 106 off 162 balls as captain here in January 1992.
Kumble’s knock is his third best score, next to his career-best 110 not out against England at The Oval, London, last year and 88 against South Africa in Kolkata in 1996-97.
The Harbhajan-Kumble partnership helped India register their highest total in Adelaide, bettering 523 in 2003-04. Overall, this is the third occasion when India have recorded a total of 500-plus here. In 1985-86, India had made 520.
India became the first team to post three totals of 500-plus against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Of the nine 500-plus totals made against Australia, South Africa and England have recorded two each and Pakistan and West Indies one each besides India’s three.
Left-handed Irfan Pathan opened the batting and bowling for the first time in his 28-Test career when he did so in the first innings.