The incredible result at Kolkata set the stage for another grandstand finish at Chennai where the two battle scarred combatants adjourned for the decider. As a balm for India's wounded psyche, the Kolkata triumph could not have been more stimulating. But the hosts failed to press home the psychological advantage on the opening day of the final Test.

Sagging beneath the burden of expectation, Harbhajan Singh failed to find his rhythm as Australia surged to 326/4. After being rooted to the crease like rabbits caught in the headlights of an onrushing cab at Kolkata, the visitors changed tack and gave Harbhajan and his cohorts the charge. Matthew Hayden played the role of aggressor with practised ease, hoicking four sixes in the first session of the Test match.

A fortuitous break early on the second morning triggered a stunning revival in India's fortunes. Harbhajan rapped Steve Waugh on the pads and the ball lobbed up in the air perilously close to the wickets. Distracted by a shout of 'Look Out' from his partner Hayden, Waugh's cold, calculating mind blanked out for a second. Palming away the ball in one swift movement, Waugh instantly realised his blunder.

The floodgates had opened and the Aussie were swept away by Harbhajan. His two favourite bunnies Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist were rapidly dispatched and the tail excised in a quick surgical operation. Hayden who watched disbelievingly from the other end holed out in frustration to long off, giving Bhajji a second 7-fer in successive Tests.

The Indians advanced to 501 on the strength of Sachin's 4th Chepauk 100. Trailing by 110, Australia got off to a flyer, knocking up 82 in just over 18 overs. In the event it was not Harbhajan who drew first blood, but he widened the gash after Nilesh Kulkarni had ousted the prolific Hayden. Vice captain Gilchrist was promoted to No.3 but it made little difference to his wretched luck, trapped lbw for the 4th time in 4 innings. And Slater misread a floater from Harbhajan, snicking to Laxman at slip.

The Waugh twins produced a tenacious stand of 52 and just when it seemed that Australia had fought themselves back into the game, the pendulum swung India's way again. Harbhajan tossed one up on middle and leg and Mark Waugh, flicked him nonchalantly round the corner where Rahul Dravid lurked in the leg trap. A spectacular lunge from Dravid and Waugh was history. That was arguably the fulcrum on which the game turned. Harbhajan tucked into the tail - starting from Ponting - with gusto.

Steve Waugh hung on till the final morning but even his legendary skills in crisis situations came a cropper against Harbhajan. Defeated by the bounce as he played forward, Waugh lobbed a bat-pad catch to short leg. The killer punch delivered, Harbhajan polished off the innings to collect match figures of 15/217.

Chasing a modest 155, the much trumpeted Indian batting line up contrived to make a hash of their task. At 151/8, Harbhajan was summoned to the middle amidst nailbiting tension. With two runs required, Glenn McGrath came steaming in to bowl an inswinging yorker to Harbhajan. The man with the Midas touch stroked it into one of the off side gaps with a studied insouciance and scampered for a couple. Harbhajan Singh had delivered the coup de grace to one of the most fascinating Test series of modern times.