Indians win opener with ease

By G. Viswanath

JOHANNESBURG, OCT. 1. The Indians must be pleased with their fine display in the opening match of the tour. The one-day match they played against Nicky Oppenheimer XI and won in style by five wickets might appear to be of little interest and consequence.

The significant part of the two month tour starts next Friday with a tri-series opener against the triumphant South African team in Zimbabwe, but after sweating it out for almost a week at `The Wanderers' and at `The Centurion', they thoroughly deserved a win in the tour opener. That leg spinner Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar also came out with flying colours was a bonus; both contributed to the team victory in which Orissa's dapper opener Shiv Sundar Das made a very impressive half century.

After a short break between the innings, all attention was riveted on Tendulkar. He played some exquisite shots that only evoked immediate commendation from former South African off spinner, Pat Symcox. The Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly, too, got into the groove, driving fast bowler, Albie Morkel. But it was Tendulkar's disdainful shots off fast bowler, Garneet Kruger that was compelling to watch. The first wicket pair produced 62 when Mornantau Hayward trapped Tendulkar leg before for 45. Soon Ganguly, too departed.

But a 90-run stand for the third wicket between Das and Rahul Dravid, both of whom retired scoring 59 and 48, set India on course to a facile win which it achieved in 48.1 overs. Virender Sehwag chipped in with a useful 44. The Indian batsmen struck 25 fours and three sixes which was a good indication of their domination over the rival bowling attack.

It is not always that visiting teams to South Africa are accorded the privilege of a fixture against Nicky Oppenheimer's XI at the diamond magnate's private cricket pitch at Randjesfontein. This goodly honour is bestowed purely on a first-come-first basis. Even the dinkums who will repay a visit early next year after the Proteas go down under in the Australian summer, will not get an opportunity to play in this splendid and attractive ground.

The Indians won it by right to play there, being the first foreign team to step on the South African soil this spring here. But yet Ganguly's team was not extended a courtesy, which the local media people said, has been a tradition in the last ten years or so.

The Oppenheimers have always been generous in asking the visiting time to bat first. This is an unwritten rule. But on a brilliant day of clear skies and blazing sun shine, the Indians sported their blue colours and without a whimper of protest stepped on the carpet-like ground to field. The Oppenheimers decided to put an end to a long lasting custom after they discovered that most touring teams used the match for batting practice, which went against their grain that probably dictated the teams to see such a match as nothing more than a social get together.

In the changed circumstances, Jonathan Oppenheimer's XI, batted first and made 244 in 52 overs, losing two of the three wickets to leg skipper Kumble. The first three batsmen - the openers, Loots Bosman and Jacques Rudolph and No. 3 Graeme Smith - made runs in a fashion that has been familiar to the discerning South Africans and who have time and again predicted a bright future for the three.

On a flat deck that had no shade of green, less of brown, but more of white, lanky seamer Venkatesh Prasad worked up a nice rhythm and bowled a tidy first spell of six overs for 15 runs. Ajit Agarkar, who shared the new ball, worked up pace, but Bosman, spoiled his spell with a couple of fours. Bosman and the tall left hander Rudolph, who appeared later, more like a southpaw pugilist, than a batsman in flannels, played the Indian seamers comfortably in their first spells, a hint of victory for the Indians coming in the form of Prasad beating Rudolph twice and then Agarkar making the right hander Bosman, hurry through, which conveyed that Agarkar, on occasions was quick. There was no more than one appeal from Prasad for a leg before against Rudolph in the first hour. Prasad might have been convinced the left hander was plumb, but not the umpire John Ostrom, included in the national panel recently.

At the first drinks interval taken after 16 overs, Oppenheimer XI had made 57. Then Bosman, who literally batted like a boss, lifting Ganguly for a straight six. He cut loose against the assorted bowlers the Indian captain tried, including against leg spinner Kumble. He hoisted a six on bent knee, the ball soaring over the mid wicket boundary. But the seasoned campaigner, Kumble, did not lose his sangfroid; he hit the deck at the right line and length and bowled well for eight overs.

Bosman left the scene, making 62 (77 balls, 4 x 6s, 4 x 4s) after smashing Reetinder Singh Sodhi for a six. Bosman was bowled by a Kumble googly. The first wicket fell at 100 and after 90 minutes and in the 23rd over of the Oppenheimer innings. It must not have pleased the Indians, but it must also be said that the bowlers were just trying to get in to a match situation, without exerting much. Moreover the pitch appeared to be the batsmen's ally.

Rudolph played the waiting game as long as Bosman was there. But after Bosman's exit, he took charge, cutting and carving the Indian second string and those who showed a little enthusiasm to roll their arm. There were at least a couple of South African selectors, including the legendary Graeme Pollock, at the venue to watch the youngsters in action.

They ought to have been thoroughly satisfied, especially with the likes of Rudolph and Graeme Smith. Rudolph and Smith are seen as batsmen who at some point of time in future would replace Gary Kirsten.

Among the two, Rudolph, many feel is expected to make the national squad. He has been picked in the South Africa `A' team for Wednesday's day/night tie against the Indians at Benoni. He batted for eight minutes short of three hours, faced 151 balls, hit 13 fours and one six, before Kumble had him caught by Virender Sehwag. The second wicket pair added 117 runs in less than 26 overs. Smith was the third batsman who impressed with his timing, he raced to his half century with a six.

As has been the practice, the Oppenheimer XI's innings came to an end with a declaration after 52 overs. Cricket matches here are played by rules, nay whims, of the man who spends for his team and extends hospitality to hundreds of his personal friends in marquees. The cricketers like it and the others,too. Nobody leaves Randjesfontein complaining.

Brief scores: Nicky Oppenheimer XI 244 for 3 in 52 overs (L. Bosman 62, J. Rudolph 109, G. Smith 54, A. Kumble 2 for 47) lost to India 245 for 5 in 48. 1 overs (S. Ganguly 34, S. Tendulkar 45. S. S. Das 59 rtd, R. Dravid 48 rtd, V. Sehwag 44)

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