India overcame a frustratingly-long late order Zimbabwe fightback before recording their first series win outside the sub-continent in almost 19 years with an emphatic 10-wicket victory over the minnows in the second and finalTest today.
The Indians allowed Zimbabwe to avoid an innings defeat with some poor fielding as the hosts managed to score 223 in their second innings before the openers rattled up the 19 required runs to clinch the series 2-0 at the Harare Sports Club.
It was India's first series win outside the sub-continent since their 2-0 triumph against England in 1986 but Saurav Ganguly and his men would not be too pleased with their efforts on the field today.
Although the visitors managed to wrap up the match in two-and-half days, they allowed the Zimbabwean lower order batsmen to hang around for much too long on a track which favoured the seamers.
Hamilton Masakadza (71) and Andy Blignaut (84 not out) were the main performers as the duo put on a record 116-run seventh wicket partnership which helped the home team avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.
Blignaut, who was dropped thrice in succession of Zaheer Khan, launched a blistering attack on the Indian bowlers as the hosts scored at a very brisk pace, compiling as many as 151 runs in the pre-lunch session.
Advertisement
Although Pathan, who captured five more wickets to return with a tally of 12 wickets, and Zaheer troubled the batsmen with their swing, the two spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble could not make much of an impression.
It was Pathan who eventually broke the seventh wicket partnership by getting rid of Masakadza, trapping him in front of the wicket with an inswinger and then struck again immediately by removingKeith Dabengwa.
Zimbawe lost overnight batsman Heath Streak (8) in the very first over of the day but from then on things started to roll their way.
Chris Coventry smashed 25 off just 24 balls with six fours before he hit Zaheer straight down the throat of Ganguly at mid-off.
There was then a sequence of comedy of errors as three catches off successive balls were put down in the slip cordon.
It was Zaheer's 16th over when substitute Dheeraj Jadhav, Virender Sehwag and wicketkeeper Dinesh Kaarthick put downchances behind the stumps to leave the bowler fuming under his breath.
India also erred in other areas in the field and once Pathan failed to collect a throw to effect a run-out.
Ganguly brought himself on for the final over of the morning session and was promptly greeted with a towering six by Blignaut. Conforming to the pattern of the morning, Blignaut was dropped again in the slips and it wasV.V.S. Laxman who was the culprit.
India rued the absence of a third medium-pacer in their ranks and the wrong selection came to haunt them in this Test.
Advertisement
PTI
