It was an action packed opening day's play in the second Test matchbetween India and Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports club on Friday. After being restricted to 237 in their first innings, India struckback to dismiss three home team batsmen for 31 runs at stumps.
In generally fine weather, Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided tobat on a good-looking batting pitch. Heath Streak, had he won thetoss, said he would have decided to field in view of Zimbabwe’s poorrecord batting first on this ground, but Ganguly’s decision appearedcorrect in view of the conditions.
Zimbabwe replaced the injured Henry Olonga with pace-bowling all-rounder Travis Friend, making his Test debut. India made two changes,replacing opener Sadagoppan Ramesh and left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khanwith Hemang Badani, also making his debut and Ajit Agarkar.
Advertisement
Before the start of play, the teams observed a minute’s silence inmemory of recent Test batsman Trevor Madondo, who died of cerebralmalaria on Monday. Several hundred enthusiastic school children,bussed in by the Mashonaland Cricket Association, added atmosphere asBrighton Watambwa bowled a good opening over to Shiv Sunder Das. Quitea degree of bounce was evident, which would be of benefit to Zimbabwe.
Badani did not last long on his Test debut, scoring just two beforebeing trapped lbw to a straight ball from Watambwa. Das and VVS Laxmanhad some taxing overs to face from both Watambwa and Streak, but theyhandled them well, taking runs off the odd stray delivery, usually toleg. Then Watambwa had to leave the field with a hamstring strainduring his fourth over, and Friend took over. He was rather tentative,and the attack lost its menace.
Advertisement
At this point Streak produced a fine delivery that rose just outsideoff stump and Laxman (15), drawn into an unwise shot, edged a sharpcatch to Andy Blignaut at second slip. Sachin Tendulkar made a slowstart to his innings, but was ready to pounce on the bad ball andpulled a short ball from Friend for a huge six to square leg. For themost part, though, India were content to play out the morning sessionand departed for lunch with 85 on the board for two wickets, with Dason 44 and Tendulkar on 20.
After lunch, Tendulkar had not yet added to his score, when hesuffered a rather unlucky dismissal. He moved too far across hisstumps to a delivery from Streak, and the ball appeared to hit his padand bounce off his boot on to his leg stump. Friend, gradually findinghis feet, began to bowl with considerable hostility, but Das, playinga composed innings at all times, reached a creditable fifty. He fellfor 57, though, as Blignaut got the first ball of a new spell to liftjust outside the off stump, and the batsman got a thin edge to thekeeper.
Rahul Dravid got off the mark in fine style, with a handsome off-drivefor four, while Sourav Ganguly struggled in vain to find his touchbefore edging Streak to third slip with just nine runs to his credit.At 122 for five, with Streak bowling superbly, India were unexpectedlyin trouble and Zimbabwe were rampant.
Dravid counter attacked with some classic strokes and Zimbabweinvoluntarily released the pressure with some less accurate bowling,perhaps through striving too hard. Sameer Dighe (20) proved a goodpartner for Dravid until he became Friend’s first Test wicket,slashing a catch to gully. At tea Zimbabwe still held the advantage,with India 166 for six with Dravid on 35 and Agarkar on 1.
Advertisement
Soon after resumption, Blignaut took his third catch of the innings at third slip as Agarkar (6) sparred at a short ball from Friend and provided the edge. Harbhajan Singh again proved a thorn in Zimbabwe'sflesh with his unorthodox hitting, after an early lucky escape when he skied a ball into no-man's-land. It looked as if the curse of the eighth wicket was hitting Zimbabwe again until leg-spinner Brian Murphy brought a ball in to bowl Harbhajan through the gate for 31. India were227 for eight after a stand of 55.
Javagal Srinath (0) was controversially given run out by the thirdumpire to a brilliant direct hit from Murphy, and the same player hadAshish Nehra (0) caught close in to end the innings. Dravid wasleft stranded with a fine 68. Streak with three for 69 was the best ofthe bowlers, while Friend was the most economical of the seamers.
Advertisement
An assessment of just how good or bad the Indian total was could notbe made until Zimbabwe had batted. Zimbabwe had 13 overs to play out,light permitting. Guy Whittall (0) fell quickly to a superb low bat-padcatch by Dravid off Nehra, and then the same bowler had Stuart Carlisle(3) caught in the gully off a loose drive.
Alistair Campbell (8) followed, driving across the line at Nehra tolose his off stump and reduce his team to 18 for three. Nehra hadtaken all three wickets in his first three overs and Zimbabwe hadalready thrown away their hard-earned advantage. Well as Srinath andNehra bowled, only Whittall could escape blame. Ebrahim, to hiscredit, continued to bat positively and finished the day unbeaten on13, partnered by Andy Flower on 5.
