Kumble at his best

By G. Viswanath

BENONI, OCT. 3. Long before the lights were switched on at the Willowmore Park here on Wednesday, Anil Kumble lit up the first session for India with an exceptional spell of 10 overs in the one-day (day/night) match against South Africa `A'.

India's ace leg-spinner was called on to cut down the flow of runs from the two openers, Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Rudolph. A task forced upon him by some wayward bowling by Javagal Srinath and Harvinder Singh.

The Indian seamers were punished, and the home side made a flying start, putting on 50 runs in 48 balls. The sandpit of a square converted into a cricket pitch in two weeks was turning into a batsmen's paradise for the South Africans and a nightmare for the Indians.

Stand-in captain Rahul Dravid was not perturbed in the least. Harvinder had gone for almost run-a-ball at 23 runs from 24 balls and Srinath was hammered for 32 runs off his first 30 balls, the good old `Mysore Express', overstepping twice in his first over and beginning his first match with an eight-ball over. The pitch might have been nice and showing bias to the batsmen, but the way things were going briskly for the second string South African team, compelled Dravid to effect the first bowling change.

He ushered in Kumble, not Ajit Agarkar, who was preferred to off- spinner Harbhajan Singh for the second warm-up match of the tour. India's coach John Wright said before the team's practice session on Tuesday that Kumble was played in the first match because it was felt that he should be given maximum opportunities before he took the field for the Tri-series opener. The realisation had dawned not too late. It was also perhaps an indication to Kumble that he would be the main spinner in the coming two months, both in the one-day tournament and also in the Test series.

It was evident from the 10 overs he bowled on a flat wicket at Randjesfontien on Monday that he was looking more towards finding his rhythm. Loots Bosman may have even taken a chance and heaved Kumble for a six and a couple of boundaries, but Kumble was generally in control.

On Wednesday afternoon, he bowled seven overs (first spell), four overs of which were maidens, conceded five runs and took the wicket of the century maker in the first match, left- hander Rudolph. It was a spell of sheer magic from the bowler bringing in the variations he has in his repertoire.

Dravid, inspired by Kumble's first over in which he gave the first of his five runs, made another change. He brought in Agarkar. The scintillating start given by Dippenaar and Rudolph was checked, the batsmen not able to score off Kumble and even Agarkar. Agarkar bowled seven overs on the trot and took two important wickets of Dippenaar and the South Africa `A' captain, Hylton Ackerman. Agarkar did not strive for pace, but for line and length and change of pace, which is his forte.

Dippenaar, who took a heavy toll of both Srinath and Harvinder, attempted to glide Agarkar wide of Dravid, the lone slip. The shot that went off the face of the bat was well held by the stand-in captain. The first wicket fell at 62 off the last ball of the 11th over. Soon Kumble struck, having Rudolph snapped up by Dasgupta. It was the latter's first catch for India. Eleven runs later he made his second catch look easy, one that came off the inside edge of Ackerman's bat.

The 14 overs bowled by Kumble and Agarkar provided ample evidence of what disciplined bowling can achieve. Kumble's forte, as always, was accuracy. He should have had Ackerman, before Agarkar dismissed him. Shiv Sundar Das could not latch on to a catch at short-leg, but Ackerman did not last long. The home team's scoring rate dropped from a bright and near six plus to under four by the 20th over.

The post Kumble-Agarkar spell saw Martin van Jaarsveld and Gerald Dros bat freely against Yuveraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Reetinder Singh Sodhi. By the 35th over South Africa `A' had recovered to 150 for three in 35 overs and soon Jaarsveld and Dros made their half centuries; Jaarsveld's 11th (69, 78b, 4x4) and Dros' 13th in limited over matches. In due course the fourth- wicket pair took their partnership beyond the century mark. Jaarsveld and Dros added 115 runs.

Harvinder, brought on for his second spell, broke the partnership. But the player of the first session was Kumble. Proof of it was written all over his analysis of 10-4-15-1. It ought to be a happy development for the Indians two days before their skirmish against South Africa.

Not far behind Kumble was Agarkar. He came back for his second spell in the slog overs took one more wicket, but Dros spoiled his figures in the end. The South Africa `A' innings terminated at 241, Dros throwing his bat around to add a few more boundaries off Srinath and Agarkar to take his score to 85 (86b, 6x4, 1x6), before being brilliantly catch by Sodhi at long-on off Srinath.

Ganguly confident of playing opener

Less than 48 hours before India's Standard Bank Tri-series opener, Sourav Ganguly's spirit doesn't permit him take a pessimistic view of his finger related injury. He looked a confident man at the Willowmore Park, trained with the rest of the team, did an extra bit on his own and even made a statement that he will play the match against South Africa at `The Wanderers'. ``I will play. The pain will stay in the ligaments,'' said Ganguly.While Ganguly is definite about taking the field on Friday, it must be said that he might be forced to change his decision once the plaster around the index and middle finger is removed on Thursday and an immediate assessment is made by the team physio Andrew Leipus.

It's not the first time Ganguly has suffered an injury before a one-day international against South Africa. Five years ago, Javagal Srinath's powerful straight hit while batting in the nets, struck Ganguly on the weight bearing muscle on his calf. Ganguly was ruled out of the one-day international in Rajkot. He returned to the national side in the Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Though the Indian captain is keen and eager to get on with business, the Mornantau Hayward delivery which damaged the tissues of his top hand first finger, might force him to take a decision otherwise, after the plaster is removed on Thursday.

Sachin Tendulkar who got his `orthotic' insoles refitted on Tuesday confirmed his great toe is in good condition and that he will be in shipshape condition for the match on Friday. In the event of Ganguly not playing the first match, Tendulkar may have new partner in Shiv Sundar Das. - Our Special Correspondent

The scores: South Africa `A': B. Dippenaar c Dravid b Agarkar 34, J. Rudolph c Dasgupta b Kumble 25, M. van Jaarsveld c Dravid b Harvinder 69, H. Ackerman c Dasgupta b Agarkar 1, G. Dros c Sodhi b Srinath 85, J. Ontong c Dasgupta b Agarkar 4, J. Kemp (not out) 8, J. Kent (not out) 5. Extras (lb- 1, nb-4, w-5) 10. Total (for six wkts in 50 overs) 241.

Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-64, 3-77, 4- 192, 5-198, 6-234.

India bowling: Srinath 9-0-58-1, Harvinder 9-1-48-1, Kumble 10-4- 15-1, Agarkar 10-0-46-3, Yuveraj 3-0-24-0, Sehwag 5-0-24-0, Sodhi 4-0-25-0.

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