Sport - Cricket

'Turbonator' and Mongia turn it India's way
By Vijay Lokapally

LEADING FROM THE FRONT: Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who was in his element again, pulling Heath Streak to the fence as wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu and Craig Wishart watch, in the second one-dayer at Mohali on Sunday. - Photos: V.V. Krishnan

MOHALI, MARCH 10. There was enough `spice' in Harbhajan Singh's performance to enable his mates savour the dinner at the end of a tough contest against the gritty Zimbabweans here tonight.

The off-spinner stepped in at the right time to arrest the Zimbabwean tempo and save India from being embarrassed for the second time in this one-day series.

Having posted 319, the Indians came in for some rough treatment in the initial stages but managed to recover. The pair of Alistair Campbell and Travis Friend raised visions of a grand finish with some clinical hitting but the Zimbabweans failed to maintain the tempo.

The two quick blows by Harbhajan were enough to give the Indians the foothold to hang on and win by 64 runs to level the series 1-1.

It was a stirring response by the Zimbabweans as Friend unleashed some lusty strokes and Campbell brought in his experience to keep the innings on the right course.

If only Friend had not stepped out in pre-determined fashion to Harbhajan, the finish could well have been as exciting as the beginning of the Zimbabwe innings. Friend and Campbell exposed the Indian attack and the gaps as panic gripped the fielding side. Runs came smoothly and the Indian attack looked tardy - Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble struggling to escape punishment.

Once Friend and Campbell departed in quick succession, the Zimbabweans looked up to the Flower brothers for salvation but the run out of Grant left Andy in a foul mood. And the contest was over practically when Andy dragged an innocuous ball onto the stumps off local lad Dinesh Mongia who was a revelation as a bowler.

The Zimbabwean assault was too good to last but all credit to the visiting side for the spirited manner in which it accepted the challenge. Things definitely augur well for the matches ahead.

Seniors show the way

The Indians came back strongly to wash away the bitter memories of Faridabad. The Zimbabwe attack was treated with contempt as the Indian batsmen, especially the seniors Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and the elegant V. V. S. Laxman, got going.

The packed audience of 30,000 was treated to some entertaining stuff by the Indians even as the second match of the one-day series was marked by some rank bad fielding by the Zimbabweans.

It was a shocking decline for a team which had so effectively tamed the Indians in the previous contest.

The colourful atmosphere at the PCA Stadium was lit up by some quality strokeplay from Dravid after Ganguly had laid the foundation with an attractive innings. Though the Indian skipper had some top-edges and mishits, he looked in control most of the time.

More than his own innings, what stood out was the way Ganguly guided local lad Dinesh Mongia who gave a good account of himself in the role of opener now thrust upon him.

It was a typical one-day pitch prepared by Daljit Singh who had promised true bounce and a lot of carry. All credit to the groundstaff for ensuring a prompt start despite overnight rain.

With the ball coming on to the bat nicely, run-making was an enjoyable exercise. Things became easier for the Indians given the shoddy line the Zimbabweans adopted in trying to escape the fury of the batsmen.

Not just in bowling, the touring side faltered in the field too and gave the Indians all the freedom to maintain a scorching run-rate.

Ganguly and Mongia played positively, and Laxman and Dravid continued the good work with their sensible approach. The top-class running between the wickets was a welcome change from the past and Ganguly deserved marks for backing his partner with some well-judged ones and twos.

Mongia shows his repertoire

There was no sign of discomfort from the knee injury as the skipper had the measure of the Zimbabwe bowlers. He allowed Mongia to dominate and then joined in the feast at the right time to leave the bowlers in disarray.

Mongia was more exciting to watch and it was good to see a youngster play a wide range of shots. He was at ease when driving square and did not hesitate to pull or hook. Mongia did his bit and perished in trying to clear mid-off.

Laxman joined Ganguly who was beginning to time the ball well. The duo pushed the Zimbabweans on to the defensive and it did not come as a surprise when the bowlers ended up bowling the wrong line. Too many wides by the mediumpacers made life difficult for Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle with the deterioration in ground fielding compounding his problems.

Laxman played some trademark shots and matched Ganguly with some deft placements. The skipper capitalised on the `juicy' offerings and thrice struck the ball over the ropes - once off seamer Gary Brent and twice off left-arm spinner Grant Flower. He would have reached the coveted mark had it not been for the blunder of taking on Heath Streak, who ran him out with a direct hit from deep point. The skipper had, for the second match running, led by example.

Dravid silences critics

Laxman, who always played all along the ground, duly got to his half century and succumbed in trying to increase the pace.

The stage was set for Dravid whose brilliant knock was a mild slap on the face of some critics who had doubted his class and commitment.

Dravid was aggressive in his approach, and pulled and clouted the bowlers with disdain. His innings was easily the biggest gain for the Indian camp from this tie. Ganguly was adjudged the man of the match.

Tendulkar likely to miss entire series

HYDERABAD, MARCH 10. There was bad news for cricket fans in India as batting genius, Sachin Tendulkar, has been advised complete rest by his doctors for a few more weeks. He is likely to miss the fourth (Hyderabad on March 16) and fifth (Guwahati) one-dayers against the touring Zimbabweans.

This was disclosed to The Hindu by a top source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India. It may be recalled that Sachin had decided to pull out of the first three ODIs due to a troubled knee. It is now almost certain that Tendulkar will not take part in the entire series and the National selection committee was duly informed about this, well ahead of its meeting on March 13 to name the squad for the final two one-dayers.

INDIA

D. Mongia c Friend b Marillier              45
(52b, 9x4)
S. Ganguly (run out)                        86
(83b, 8x4, 3x6)
V.V.S. Laxman c Ebrahim b Friend            52
(72b, 3x4)
R. Dravid (not out)                         66
(59b, 6x4)
M. Kaif b G. Flower                         15
(19b, 1x4)
A. Agarkar c Marillier b Brent               6
(7b)
S. Bangar c Wishart b Brent                  0
(1b)
Harbhajan Singh (not out)                   15
(9b, 2x4)
Extras (b-2, lb-5, nb-2, w-25)              34

                                           ---
Total (for 6 wkts. in 50 overs)            319
                                           ---

Fall of wickets: 1-109 (Mongia), 2-190 (Ganguly), 3-243 (Laxman), 4-276 (Kaif), 5-290 (Agarkar), 6-291 (Bangar).

Zimbabwe bowling: Streak 10-0-72-0 (nb-1, w-4), Friend 10-0-57-1 (w-10), Brent 9-0-60-2 (nb-1, w-9), Marillier 10-0-51-1 (w-2), G.Flower 9-0-56-1, Campbell 2-0-16-0.

ZIMBABWE

A. Campbell lbw b Harbhajan                  62
(75b, 8x4)
D. Ebrahim c Laxman b Agarkar                 1
(3b)
T. Friend st Ratra b Harbhajan               63
(59b, 8x4, 1x6)
A. Flower b Mongia                           29
(35b, 2x4)
G. Flower (run out)                           9
(17b, 1x4)
S. Carlisle c Ratra b Agarkar                25
(27b, 1x4)
C. Wishart b Mongia                          14
(15b)
D. Marillier c Ratra b Mongia                 2
(4b)
H. Streak c Bangar b Kumble                  14
(12b, 2x4)
T. Taibu (not out)                            6
(11b)
G. Brent lbw b Harbhajan                      7
(5b, 1x4)
Extras (w-4, nb-1, lb-18)                    23
                                            ---
Total (in 43.3 overs)                       255
                                            ---

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Ebrahim), 2-138 (Friend), 3-143 (Campbell), 4-166 (G. Flower), 5-204 (A. Flower), 6-207 (Carlisle), 7-219 (Marillier), 8-229 (Wishart), 9-245 (Streak).

India bowling: Zaheer 7-0-42-0 (nb-1, w-1), Agarkar 8- 0-44-2, Bangar 4-0-32-0 (w-2), Kumble 10-0-49-1, Harbhajan 8.3-0-40-3 (w- 1), Mongia 6-0-31-3.

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