There were two bowling spells of the very highest quality in this game. One of them got its due rewards; the other was in a lost cause. Glenn McGrath bowled a devastating spell of 7-1-37-5, scything through New Zealand's top order in an awesome display of new-ball bowling. McGrath is known for his metronomic accuracy, and he was jaw-droppingly brilliant today. Out of the 43 deliveries he bowled, as many as 35 were either good length or just short, which makes for 81%. Four of the other deliveries were yorkers.

But even more than his length, his line was outstanding. Thirty-four of his deliveries – 79% - were in the corridor on off or just outside off. And all of the nine deliveries that weren't were bowled to left-handers from over the wicket, pitching on middle stump or middle-and-leg, and going on to off or just outside off. Thus, he was spot-on in the corridor for virtually 100% of his spell. Woof!

Daniel Vettori, meanwhile, might have ended on the losing side, but he gave a perfect demonstration of how spinners can be a force in one-day cricket – especially when they don't keep it flat and boring, but try to take wickets.

His figures of 10-1-25-1 came not with accurate defensive bowling but accurate aggressive bowling. He flighted the ball generously, varied his speed and always kept one step ahead of the batsmen. Out of the 60 deliveries he bowled, as many as 45 – 75% - were pitched on a good length, and there were eight yorkers and six just-short-of-good-length balls thrown in as well.

Like McGrath, his line was excellent as well. He bowled 48 of his deliveries – a full 80% - in the corridor on off and just outside off, and the rest were pitched on middle. Ten of those were bowled to right-handers and turning away, and yielded only three runs. Against the marauding Aussies, who smashed 271 in the 40 overs bowled by the other bowlers, it was a phenomenal spell.

Amit Varma is assistant editor of Wisden.com in India.

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