Indian batsmen, Srinath fashion seven-wicket victory
Form is temporary, class is permanent goes the adage
Anand Vasu reporting from Feroz Shah Kotla
22-Nov-2000
Form is temporary, class is permanent goes the adage. When a classy
batsman is in form, that is the ultimate problem for a bowling side.
Zimbabwe today were at the wrong end of an exhilarating batting
display from three men - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav
Ganguly. If Tendulkar provided the initial impetus with a run a ball
blistering 39, Dravid (70 not out) and Ganguly (65 not out) took India
to their fourth consecutive victory in the first Test of the current
series at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The pair added 110 runs for the third
wicket and took India past the target of 190 in 37.3 overs with seven
wickets to spare.
The session between lunch and tea proved to be a most dramatic one,
and settled the issue in India's favour. The Indian bowlers, fresh
from the rest and rejuvenated by the meal knocked out the Zimbabwe
tail. But not before they let at least three chances go abegging.
Skipper Ganguly floored a sitter in the slips and Vijay Dahiya added a
blackmark to a good match for him by dropping a regulation catch
behind the stumps. Fortunately for India, the error was rectified soon
enough as Henry Olonga, the last man, missed a full, straight Srinath
yorker and was trapped plumb in front. After charging in for 24.1
overs, Srinath returned 5/81, taking his match tally to nine wickets.
Although Srinath had created the chance for the Indians by restricting
Zimbabwe to 225, there was still a challenging target to be
overhauled. Challenging or not, it was easy work for India given the
kind of form the top three batsmen have been in.
Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das walked out to the middle ending
any speculation that the Indians might change the batting order in an
attempt to make a quick start. Unfortunately for Ramesh, his poor form
continued. Playing at a ball outside the off stump from Heath Streak
without really moving his feet, Ramesh (0) presented Andy Flower with
an easy catch. First innings double centurion joined Das out in the
middle and started off in splendid fashion, pulling Brian Strang to
the fence in style.
Unfortunately for India even this combination was not to last. Das
made an error of judgment, backed up too much and could not regain his
crease before a Brian Murphy direct hit broke the stumps at the nonstriker's end. For the third time in this match, the score read 15/2.
In walked Sachin Tendulkar. Playing as only he can, the Mumbai class
act decimated the Zimbabwean bowling. Driving the ball with immense
power, Tendulkar found the gaps with ease. The momentum was so
frenetic, the hitting so clean, that even Heath Streak was forced to
stop and applaud.
When the spinners were brought into the attack, their fate was no
better. Tendulkar employed the sweep shot with great results. Planting
his foot and sweeping the ball all along the ground, Tendulkar pounded
the hoardings square of the wicket. Unfortunately for India the
fairytale didn't last long. Tendulkar went hard at a ball from Paul
Strang that was well outside the off stump and miscued it to backward
point. The other leg spinner, Brian Murphy who suffered so much at the
hands of Tendulkar pouched the catch. Tendulkar's 39 ball assault that
yielded as many runs, was over. His innings however, had put India in
the driver's seat.
Ganguly and Dravid then came together to forge a sensible 110-run
partnership that saw India through to victory. Dravid added an
unbeaten 70 to his first innings double ton. Stroking the ball with
gay abandon, he realised very early on that this target could be
overhauled by sensible batting. Ganguly too was patient and prudent in
shot selection. When the ball was there to be hit though, neither
missed out. If Dravid's pet stroke was the pull, Ganguly's was the
dance down the wicket that deposited the ball in the stands. When
Ganguly nudged the ball behind square for his 65th run, India had
completed their triumph with 9.3 overs to spare. Srinath was adjudged
the man of the match.