Gibbs and Kirsten put South Africa on perch

By G. Viswanath

CENTURION, NOV. 24. Javagal Srinath could have put his feet up in a lordly fashion, taking care of his injured hand and watched the proceedings of the second day of the this Castle Lager/ MTN unofficial Test at the Super Sport Park on Saturday. But he did not allow himself this luxury, even in a match South Africa's captain, Shaun Pollock, regards it as akin to a serious practice match before the series against Australia and England for the two teams. Instead, he showed plenty of guts and commitment, bowling a dozen overs in his first two spells and retiring to the dressing room after taking the wicket of Herschelle Gibbs. He returned to the field for another spell of four overs in a peculiar match that ended on the second day with South Africa surpassing India's first innings score of 232.

The first meaningful news, though not of alarming nature to an extent for India on Saturday morning was with regard to the injury to Srinath. An investigation in the form of an x- ray revealed a fracture on the head of the fifth metacarpal (little finger) of his non-bowling hand, which prevented him resuming his innings that was brought to an end by Mornantau Hayward in the post tea session on Friday.

Just before lunch on the second day, manager Dr. Mahendra Bhargava said Srinath might have to seek orthopaedic advice before making himself available for the first Test against England to start at Mohali in less than ten day's time. Two hours later, Dr. Bhargava said: ``Srinath thinks it is not necessary to seek a specialist's advice because he doesn't feel any discomfort while bowling.''

Srinath, who suffered the body blow, attempting to keep a rising delivery from fast bowler Hayward, down, but in the process took his eye of the ball, is the best man to judge the severity of the injury because it's an internal injury. The Indian speedster, who took thirteen wickets in two Test matches played in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth, has a history of being hit in the same spot by Australian and Sri Lankan bowlers. There is time left before the first Test against England, but the fact that he cannot bat is sufficient reason for him to consult an orthopaedic specialist immediately.

Though he showed tremendous zest, there was no reward for him in his first spell of seven overs that cost him 33 runs. Gary Kirsten, whom he dismissed cheaply in the second Test in a helpful pitch on Port Elizabeth, worked him for six fours. Surprisingly, the century maker in the first two Tests, Gibbs, did not open his account until the 15th ball he faced. One of the better shots Kirsten struck was a straight drive off Srinath. India's spearhead bowled five overs in his second spell, conceded 12 runs and picked up the wicket of Gibbs, who after hammering ten fours, paid the price for a loose shot he attempted.

The Gibbs-Kirsten partnership produced a roaring 135. Gibbs' departure introduced Jacques Rudolph to the national ranks for the first time. The left hander appears to possess the essentials to succeed in the big league, having taken hundreds of the Indian and Kenyan attack side games during the Summer Spice Tri-series. He gave a glimpse of his talent driving offspinner Harbhajan Singh straight down the ground and cutting him late for another four.

A show of aggressive fielding by substitute Agarkar (for Srinath) resulted in Rudolph's first outing for South Africa kept down to two minutes short of three quarters of an hour, but evident in this short time was his potential to become a star batsman. Umpire Dave Orchard declared him (Rudolph) run out, but prompted by the batsman- which is a clear breach of the ICC Code of Conduct- he sought second opinion from the third umpire.

It is the second time this season Orchard sought assistance from the third umpire; the first being against Kenya in the tri-series match against India in Bloemfontein. On that occasion he changed his decision and called back Thomas Odoyo, who had actually crossed the boundary line.

It has been a wonderful season for both Gibbs and Kirsten, though the latter had a poor second Test. He made amends for that poor form by executing some firm cuts and drives on the off side before he nicked a delivery from Nehra into the hands of a crouching Dravid at first slip.

Gibbs and Kirsten took the second day's play to heights that suggested they were earnest in their attitude. For India the high point was the fielding effort that resulted in the run out of Rudolph.

Scoreboard

INDIA - 1st innings:

S.S. Das c Gibbs b Hayward                46
(164m, 132b, 9x4)
C. Williams lbw b Klusener                 5
(68, 46b)
R. Dravid lbw b Ntini                      5
(50m, 37b, 1x4)
S. Tendulkar c Boucher b Kallis           27
(55m, 38b, 5x4)
V.V.S. Laxman c Kirsten b Kallis          14
(27m, 22b, 2x4)
D. Dasgupta c Rudolph b Hayward           36
(96m, 73b, 6x4)
A. Kumble b Hayward                       27
(174m, 129b, 3x4) 

Harbhajan Singh (run out)                 29
(40m, 32b, 6x4)
J. Srinath (retd. hurt)                    8
(24m, 14b, 2x4)
V. Prasad (not out)                       11
(55m, 40b, 1x4)
A. Nehra c Boje b Hayward                  4
(29m, 29b)
Extras (b-1, 1b-12, nb-7)                 20
                                         ---
Total (in 97.4 overs)                    232
                                         ---

Fall  of wickets: 1-16 (Williams), 2-49 (Dravid), 3-90 (Das),  4-
100   (Tendulkar),  5-107  (Laxman),  6-158   (Dasgupta),   7-197 
(Harbhajan), 8-221 (Kumble), 9-232 (Nehra).

South Africa bowling: Pollock 20-11-21-0 (nb-3), Hayward  28.4-8-
74-4  (nb-2), Ntini 17-3-78-1 (nb-1), Klusener 12-6-11-1,  Kallis 
13-7-15-2, Boje 7-2-20-0.

SOUTH AFRICA - 1st innings:

H. Gibbs c Harbhajan b Srinath           59
(145m, 101b, 10x4)
G. Kirsten c Dravid b Nehra              90
(210m, 155b, 13x4, 1x6)
J. Rudolph (run out)                     21
(42m, 38b, 4x4)
J. Kallis (batting)                      41
(127m, 102b, 6x4)
N. McKenzie c Laxman b Tendulkar         33
(99m, 93b, 6x4)
Extras (b-2, lb-1, nb-12, w-2)           17
                                        ---
Total (for four wkts)                   261
                                        ---

Fall of wickets: 1-135 (Gibbs), 2-171 (Rudolph), 3-195 (Kirsten).

India  bowling:  Srinath 16-3-54-1 (nb4, w1),  Nehra  17-  3-66-1 
(nb5,  w1), Prasad 11-2-42-0 (nb3), Harbhajan  20-9-45-0,  Kumble 
15-3- 40-0, Tendulkar 1.4-0-11-1.

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