|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
Astrology
Chat
Cityscape
Classifieds
Entertainment
Health
Matrimonial |
|
|
Zimbabwe survive opening day
First a second wicket stand between skipper Stuart Carlisle and Alistair Campbell and then late order resistance by Travis Friend and Heath Streak kept the Indian bowlers at bay after Zimbabwe decided to take the first strike on winning the toss. Carlisle, who top-scored with 77, and Campbell (57) put on 106 for the second wicket after losing opener Trevor Gripper cheaply for five. But India fought back in the post-lunch session and reduced the visitors to 182 for six before Friend and Streak produced cameo knocks to keep alive the hopes of posting a good total. Friend was going strong on 33 while Ray Price, the only spinner in the Zimbabwean ranks, was on six at stumps.
Zimbabwe started cautiously aiming to keep their wickets intact in the morning session. They succeeded in their goal to a large extent when they took lunch at 60 for one, losing only Gripper who was out at the total of 15. Gripper fended at an outgoing delivery from Zaheer Khan and paid the price with wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta bringing off a good diving catch. Carlisle and Campbell then concentrated on building the innings and even though Campbell showed some aggressive instincts initially, runs came in a trickle for Zimbabwe.
The pair stepped up the scoring in the second session with Campbell doing the bulk of the scoring. One of the three former captains in the side, Campbell reached his 14th Test fifty before Kumble, who was taken for a few runs by the batsman in his opening spell, dismissed him to take his first wicket. Campbell drove Kumble uppishly and the ball went straight to Laxman who took a good low catch at short mid-off. Zaheer Khan then produced the big wicket when he clean bowled Andy Flower with a perfect Yorker. Andy Flower, who has an awesome record against India, could manage only three runs and Zimbabwe lost their third wicket at 125.
However, Carlisle hung on to his wicket stubbornly despite being regularly troubled by Harbhajan. Carlisle was unable to read the offie, especially his away going deliveries and was lucky to have survived the edges and snicks. Unable to take it any more, Carlisle lofted Harbhajan in the last over before tea for a four which took him past his previous best Test score of 64. He, however, missed out on his first Test century when he was run out 15 minutes on resumption.
India took the new ball after 85 overs and Zaheer Khan immediately produced the result when Streak (24) hit his first ball, a half-volley on the leg-stump straight into the hands of a waiting Shiv Sunder Das at mid-on. But Friend hit three successive fours in the same over as Zimbabwe refused to give in. By stumps, Friend and Price had added 21 for the ninth wicket. |
|
|
|
Copyright
2009, Chennai Interactive
Business Services (P) Ltd. |
|
Despite making significant dents in Zimbabwe’s batting order, India were unable to finish it off as the tourists survived the opening day of the first cricket Test here today reasonably placed at 248 for eight.
For India, leg spinner Anil Kumble and left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan bagged three wickets each. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who bowled beautifully throughout the day, was unlucky to go
wicketless. 
Carlisle crossed 1,000 runs when he hit all-rounder Sanjay Bangar for a four to reach 15.
Bangar, a surprise inclusion in the Indian side after being preferred over Virender
Sehwag, bowled an impressive seven over spell in which he conceded 11 runs.
Just ten minutes before tea, Zimbabwe lost another wicket, that of Gavin
Rennie, who was unable to get away from a well-directed bouncer from Javagal Srinath and scooped a catch to substitute Sehwag in the slips, in the second session and were 165 for four at the break.
Grant Flower (14) and wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu (1) were out in quick succession before Streak and Friend put on 33 for the eighth wicket. Streak showed attacking instincts, hitting Kumble for a couple of boundaries and then lofting Harbhajan straight over his head for a huge six.
