Indian batsmen fail again

By G. Viswanath

SHARJAH, MARCH 27. Peace reigned at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. A game of cricket might have never been played in such a tranquil atmosphere. The Indian cricketers were supposed to have played smart and electrifying cricket in what was almost a do-or- die match for them against the South Africans. But they simply could not put mind over matter, although they appeared intense in attitude.

They could not execute a task they had imposed on them after being trounced by Inzamam-ul-Haq and Pakistan on Sunday. Their batting which hit a low did not lift the sombre setting which looked more English like, but without blustery winds and biting cold. The floodlights were switched on to augment the fading light. The Indians' batting was so unremarkable that they ended up making 164 which was on par with what they made in the tri- series opener last Wednesday.

The grim pointer to the turn of events that was to come was evident in the way the South Africans fielded in the first 15 overs and maintained the high standard right through. To say that the South Africans were outstanding would be an understatement. They are the fittest men around in international cricket. This is the area of the game in which they even have an edge over the Australians.

Hansie Cronje might not have positioned specialists at the right places inside the 30-yard circle. Even then they appeared to take their fielding levels to a higher plane. There was a typical off- side flourish from Sourav Ganguly which split the fielders between cover and point. This was the only note of aggression from the Indians in the early part of the match.

Having been asked to field the South Africans were geared up to face the challenge they might have expected from the Indians. They made unmistakable their tactics, which was to deny the Indians runs in the first hour. They preferred to go into the match without Shaun Pollock, who they feel might just be fit enough for the final if he is under the care of physiotherapist Chris Smith.

Pollock did not play the last match against Pakistan and his replacement Mornantau Hayward had grabbed the opportunity. He bowled 10 overs and conceded just 21 runs. On Monday he gave the breakthrough when he had the Indian captain, Ganguly, steering the ball to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. On flat pitches, the left- hander has managed to keep the ball down, but to essay such a stroke against Hayward was asking for trouble. Hayward bowls straight and fast outside the off stump, pitching the ball at three-quarter length of the deck. There was sufficient bounce for him on a pitch which again seemed to have improved for the South African fast bowlers to manipulate.

Tendulkar who made 11, 10 and 5 before this match was determined. He made a conscious effort to get behind the line and defend.

He appeared to be timing his shots well, too. But he found the inner circle like a fortress. If Tendulkar's concentration level was high, the South Africans were equal to the task. They frustrated him diving and pouncing and even used their body to block the shot.

Cronje had praised his bowlers for maintaining a disciplined line in the first match against the Indians. On Monday, his frontline and back-up seamers strictly adhered to the off stump corridor which itself cramped Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin from playing their favourite shots on the on side.

The Indian captain made the right decision to promote Azharuddin, who was willing to break the shackles. Once he slashed Steve Elworthy over cover point. He repeated the shot against Makhaya Ntini. But there were no easy runs for two of the most experienced Indian batsmen. They made 70 runs for the second wicket before the pressure to get on with the game cracked their nerves.

Double blow

Azharuddin was the first run out victim. A direct throw from Neil McKenzie beat him as he scampered. Then Herschelle Gibbs moved in swiftly to throw down the stumps at the striker's end. Tendulkar walked after making his highest in four matches.

The Indians never really recovered from the double blow. In between Ajay Jadeja felt done in by umpire John Hampshire, who responded positively to an appeal from Elworthy. The South Africans were unyielding and the fact that only two fours were hit after Dravid's dismissal was a clear indication of the heights the South Africans took their fielding levels to.

Hayward ended with four wickets, his best in his short career. For obvious reasons the dismissals that counted a lot for the South Africans were that of Tendulkar and Azharuddin. And on a day when Cronje's team bowled and fielded flawlessly, McKenzie and Gibbs deserve high praise for their direct hits.

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