Indians blow a fine chance

Once again the Indians blew a fine opportunity. First, the batsmen failed to capitalise on a wonderful start by the openers and then the bowlers were unable to operate to a tight line, when a measure of discipline could have made South Africa's task much harder.

After Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar put the South African attack to the sword, the Indians must have surely got to a total of around 300. However, the later batsmen failed to accelerate to the required levels; this has been one of the major problem areas for the Indians.

With the Indians ending up with 279, the Proteas were in with a definite chance on a batting pitch. And, with a professional, unruffled approach - here experienced left-handed opener Gary Kirsten showed the way - they clinched the first match of the Tri-series with a measure of comfort.

The Indian approach during the end overs betrayed a distinct lack of common sense apart from inexperience. The job could have been accomplished with ones and twos. Instead, the batsmen went for the big hits and paid the price.

Ganguly proves critics wrong

Coming to Ganguly's blazing effort, it proved several people wrong, including this columnist. One had been maintaining that Ganguly should not open the innings, and this knock for sure would put him in the right frame of mind for the rest of the series. This game is all about confidence, and the Indian captain has begun on the right note.

It was a beautifully-paced knock from Tendulkar too. He was in a rather unfamiliar role this time around, playing second fiddle to Ganguly. This also revealed what a clever customer the Mumbai Maestro is.

The Indian skipper was firing on all cylinders, and Tendulkar, whose shot-making skills need no elaboration here, kept the partnership going with a nice blend of caution and aggression.

In the same breath, it must be mentioned that the team management got it horribly wrong when it asked Shiv Sundar Das to walk in at No. 7. It just did not make sense, and would have done the youngster's confidence little good.

Das is a `pure' opener, and the think-tank should either play him at the top of the order or not pick him at all. Thrusting him into a `pinch-hitting' situation is bound to harm his technique too.

Indian bowling disorganised

When the hone side chased, Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs wasted little time in grabbing the initiative away from India. They were helped by some lacklustre bowling from the Indians as well; with the exception of Ajit Agarkar the attack was disorganised.

Kirsten may not be one of the more attractive southpaws around, but is an effective batsman nevertheless. The opener is compact in his methods, and has the knack of keeping the scoreboard ticking with clever placements, without resorting to the big blows, at the same time not letting the loose offerings go unpunished.

Visible in South Africa's successful chase was planning. The Proteas knew exactly what they were doing and at no stage did they lose control. Not for nothing is it a formidable side.

There are lessons to be learnt from defeats they say and the Indians could well pick up a thing or two from the South African approach when in pursuit of a target.

By K. SRIKKANTH

www.krishsrikkanth.com

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Section  : Sport
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