The second day's play began badly for India, the Zimbabwean tail waggingmerrily and pushing the score on to 287. Travis Friend was theparty-pooper-in-chief for the Indians, making an unbeaten 60. As the dayproceeded, however, things looked decisively up for the home side. Opener ShivSunder Das made his second Test ton, Rahul Dravid made an unbeaten half-century,and India reached 209/2 - still 88 behind.
One cannot ascertain whether Das has a marked preference for oranges, but hecertainly likes the 'Orange City' of Nagpur. In the 66th over of the day, Dasleaned back and punched a Trevor Gripper off-break through the covers to bringup his second successive ton at Nagpur. The victims the first time around wereZimbabwe as well, so perhaps it is just the bowling then, and not the venue.Dravid, who amassed 200 when these teams clashed at the same stadium the lasttime around, was happy to pick up an unbeaten 57.
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It was on November 25th 2000 that Das brought up his maiden Test hundred.Stuart Carlisle will have bad memories of that match, but this one is shaping upto be just as bad. With Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly still tocome, on paper, the best of the Indian batting sat in the pavilion for theentire day. Das, with his knock of 105 (203 b, 19x4 ) has made sure thatZimbabwe are on the back foot already. Unfortunately for the youngster, hechopped left-arm spinner Ray Price to Alistair Campbell at slip just before theclose of play.
The scoring rate may be an unimpressive 2.82, but it will not bother theIndians too much. The bowlers are tired, the wicket still very much full ofruns, and an all-out attack on the third day beckons temptingly.
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Dravid clearly is not the man to take part in any such move. The Karnatakamiddle-order bat knows his place in the side, and indeed his role, and he wascontent just waiting for the loose ball. The Zimbabwean bowlers, unable toattack on this wicket, made the mistake of straying on the pads far too oftenand were duly punished. Dravid struck Brighton Watambwa beautifully throughcovers in the 72nd over of the innings to bring up his half century. The knock,that comes after a lay-off due to shoulder injury, included eight hits to thefence and came off 141 balls.
Deep Dasgupta, who did not have a particularly good time behind the stumps,contributed solidly with the bat. Never one to score very quickly, Dasgupta hadjust one departure from dourness when he stepped down the track and hit Pricestraight back over his head for a six. Apart from that, it was very much a slowplod from Dasgupta.
His vigil at the crease was brought to an end by a fine piece of bowling bythe only spinner in this Zimbabwe team. Price, bowling around the wicket, bowleda tidy line, just short of a length and outside the off, spinning away a touch.Surprising Dasgupta, Price floated in an arm ball, the batsman shouldered armsand watched in amazement as the ball clipped the off-stump. Dasgupta's 33 sawIndia reach 79 for the fall for the first wicket.
But between the dismissals of Dasgupta and Das lay almost a whole day ofattrition. Tomorrow India should shift gears. With Tendulkar at the crease, youcan be sure that there will be a full house baying for boundaries. Whether thelittle master will oblige or not depends on how tidily Zimbabwe can bowl. If thebowling on the second day's play is anything to go by, Nagpur can be sure thatthe advertising hoardings on the boundary ropes will take a bit of a pounding.
