Cricket: Harbhajan sings Martin's praises

Age helps smooth many rough edges and so it is with Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh.

Not so long ago the champion offspinner was renowned for his fiery temperament and an annoying habit of getting under the skin of the opposition.

He took particular delight in rarking up the Australians - and who could really blame him for that?

But shortly after arguably his greatest achievement on the test stage, 30-year-old Harbhajan singled out New Zealand paceman Chris Martin for credit where he thought the true credit was due.

A match double of 69 and 115 with the bat, his maiden century after 88 tests, saw the turbaned Sikh named man of the match following the drawn first test against New Zealand at Sardar Patel Stadium here today.

His century, containing 11 fours and three sixes to enliven a 274-minute stay, ensured a draw for the hosts as they dragged out their second innings to 266 on the final day after they had resumed at an uncertain 82 for six and leading by just 110 runs.

Harbhajan, though, considered Martin a worthy man of the match after the 35-year-old turned back the clock to rock India with figures of five for 25 early on in their second innings on the fourth day.

The ageing rocker couldn't maintain the pace today though, a benign pitch proving too much as he finished with five for 63 off 27 overs, his best return at test level in 5-1/2 years.

Harbhajan was suitably impressed.

"Hats off to this guy, he bowled his heart out," Harbhajan said.

"For me, he is the man of the match. To get five wickets on this pitch was something really special. A lot of credit must go to him."

The dead and flat Ahmedabad pitch meant a bowler's lot was nothing more than toil and trouble.

"I am really happy I did something in this game because there was nothing for the bowlers in this wicket," said Harbhajan, who managed figures of just one for 112 off 43 overs when New Zealand posted 459 in their first innings, 28 shy of the home team's opening effort.

Harbhajan's pretensions as an allrounder grew legs as he put on a face saving seventh wicket stand of 163 in 230 minutes with VVS Laxman, who was cruelly denied a deserved century when Australian umpire Steve Davis suffered a supposed case of heat stroke.

Laxman, on 91, was destined for his 17th test hundred when Davis surprisingly upheld an ambitious leg before wicket shout from New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori despite the ball hitting bat a good 15cm removed from his pad.

Harbhajan donned a diplomat's cap when asked about the decision, which could not be reviewed because the Board of Control for Cricket in India is not using television's Umpiring Decision Review System, which it considers untrustworthy.

"He batted superbly. He was a little unlucky with the decision, he'd have got his hundred as well. He deserved more credit than me."

- NZPA