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Marillier smashes India's hopes India were too strong for ten of the Zimbabwe's players but the eleventh almost single-handedly inflicted one of the most stunning defeats on them as the home side lost the first one-dayer by one wicket in a thrilling match here today. Douglas Marillier, who joined the Zimbabwe team for the one-day series, hit an explosive 24-ball 56, blasting 10 fours and one six, to take Zimbabwe past the Indian total of 274 with only two balls remaining. Zimbabwe finished at 276 for nine with the winning runs coming off a four from Marillier. It was an amazing display by the young Zimababwean who came in at number ten and demolished all the bowlers including Zaheer Khan who till then was highly impressive. Needing 48 runs from the last four overs, Zimbabwe's cause was all but lost but Marillier made things happen for his side. India had almost wrapped up the match by the 45th over when they bagged the eighth Zimbabwean wicket at the score of 210. But in a brilliant improvising knock, Marillier took 34 runs from Zaheer Khan's ninth and tenth overs and saw his team through in the company of Tatenda Taibu first and Gary Brent later. The Indians were so stunned by the defeat that they took a long time to arrive at the presentation ceremony. Skipper Sourav Ganguly said he had not such an innings in the seven years of his career. Marillier's achievement over-shadowed Zaheer Khan's earlier effort during which he produced eight fiery overs claiming four wickets to derail the Zimbabwe innings which had seen just two fine knocks from Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell. Zaheer Khan complimented the performances of Ganguly and V V S Laxman who had excelled with the bat earlier in the day. Fresh from his first Test century as captain, Ganguly cracked a strokeful 57 but it was Laxman who stole the limelight with a neat innings. Under fire for his inability to translate his potential into runs, Laxman produced a sparkling 75-run knock that contained only five fours but included some glorious shots that were a treat to watch. Having suffered the ignominy of being dropped not only from the one-day team against England from also from the second Test against Zimbabwe, Laxman once again showed glimpses of the immense talent he possesses. And when the Indian innings faltered after a minor collapse in the middle order, Ajit Agarkar blasted an unbeaten 40 from just 19 balls with six fours and a six. He shared a 63-run partnership for the unfinished seventh wicket with Mohd Kaif, who remind not out on 39, as India added 51 runs from the last five overs. Playing without two of their star batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, India had managed a reasonably good total on a wicket perfect for batting. But Zimbabwe did not look like being in the hunt except when Andy Flower and Campbell were at the crease. Zaheer Khan struck in the very first over of the innings, when he uprooted the off-stump of Craig Wishart who managed only one run and four overs later, he again gave the Zimbabwe innings a jolt when Travis Friend, sent at number three position after his good performance with the bat in the Test matches, edged onto his stumps. Two down for 21 in the fifth over, Zimbabwe could not have made a worse start. Zaheer Khan continued to trouble the batsmen with well-directed bouncers and yorkers and looked dangerous all the time. But Flower and Campbell not only survived the onslaught but also started attacking. Andy Flower, who had just one good knock in the just-concluded Test series, once again came back to haunt the Indians as he cut and drove with relative ease. He swept off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for a six over mid-wicket to bring up Zimbabwe's fifty in the 14th over and then took a four off the very next ball with a similar shot. Anil Kumble was surprisingly held back till the 23rd over but he could not do much when these two batsmen were in full flow. |
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