Australia v India 1997-1998

At Sharjah, April 19 (day/night). Australia won by 58 runs. Toss: Australia.

India were without Agarkar, their match-winter two days earlier, through a thigh injury, and his replacement, Harvinder Singh, proved costly. Most of the Australians got runs and, although no one dominated, a respectable score resulted, thanks in part to substandard fielding. Bevan, the master of the limited-overs game, made 58, a wily innings that contained no boundaries. With the confidence of youth, the 17-year-old off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bravely gave the ball air - and was rewarded with three for 41. In reply, Tendulkar alone offered resistance and, when he departed in the 33rd over with another 104 still needed, so did any chance of an Indian victory.

Man of the Match: S. R. Tendulkar.