Saturday, Dec 14, 2002
Saturday, Dec 14, 2002 |
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Cricket
By S. Dinakar
Zaheer Khan celebrates after successfully trapping Robbie Hart lbw on the second day of the first Test. — Photos: N. Balaji
One man was turning out in his first serious match after recovering from a knee injury, while the other was bowling on a surface not really expected to assist him. Yet, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh are quality performers, and between them scalped five, as the Kiwis lost their way in an extended post-tea session, collapsing from 96 for one to 201 for seven at close on a typically wind-swept second day at the Basin Reserve. The home side led by 40 and still had the battling opener Mark Richardson at the crease (83, 220b, 10x4), however, the Test holds interesting possibilities. Understandably, Zaheer took his time to settle down, but then the left-armer was always likely to succeed on this pitch, with his ability to hit the seam more often than Aashish Nehra, who is essentially a swing bowler. It was Zaheer's second post tea spell of 5-1-4-1-- he surprised and snared a well-settled Astle -- that opened the sluice gates, as New Zealand lost four wickets for 20 runs. Harbhajan is a chirpy character who loves challenges, and he send down an exemplary spell from the Government House end, settling into an ideal off-stump line, flighting the ball, and there was an element of turn for him too, tempting Ganguly to employ a silly point and short-leg ... an unusual sight in a contest dominated by pacemen. For New Zealand, Mark Richardson stood out. He is not a cricketer who would bring the crowds to the ground, or send the pulse racing, but the efficient opener once again underlined his value to the team on a day when as many as 43 overs were lost with a wet outfield forcing play to commence only at 3 p.m. The match starts at 3.10 a.m. (IST) on Saturday. Richardson averages 47.09 from 20 Tests, which, considering that he has often had to bat at the top of the order on seaming pitches is a healthy one indeed. Initially he looked rusty and had his moments of uncertainty and the low catch that he offered off Ajit Agarkar at 48 was floored by V.V.S. Laxman at second slip, yet the 32-year-old Auckland batsman held firm, dropping anchor at one end. Richardson played the percentage game well; mostly relying on cuts and drives, that were straighter than squarer, for his runs while blunting the well-directed deliveries. New Zealand for sure required someone to play such a role with wickets falling at the other end. "I love batting on this wicket, I've made runs here before," said the left-arm spinner turned opener who made his Test debut only at 29. The Kiwis appeared to be coasting along well at 181 for three, with Nathan Astle (41), the key man in the middle order, getting into his groove, when Zaheer got a delivery to climb from a length. The ball struck the top of the bat before lobbing to Harbhajan Singh at cover point. The fifth wicket had raised 70 runs off 122 deliveries and it was a crucial strike. Harbhajan Singh meant business from the R.A. Vance end, removing the two all-rounders in the middle of the Kiwi order, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram, both failing to open their account. Styris, who rather unwisely decided to step out, was done in by a delivery that drifted away a shade from the off-stump, Parthiv Patel having the bails off in a flash. The Indians had more to cheer about four runs later when the left-handed Jacob Oram padded up to Harbhajan, and though his right pad was a long way forward, umpire Asoka de Silva responded positively to a frenzied appeal. Robbie Hart, the wicket-keeper batsman, gobbled up 43 balls in a pressure situation, and it was smart captaincy by Ganguly when he gave Zaheer another fling at the fag end of the day. The left-armer charged in from the round the wicket, slanted one in from the off-stump and it was curtains for Hart. When play finally got underway, Ganguly put his trust in Zaheer and Nehra. With an early breakthrough eluding India, the second wicket partnership added 50 off 105 balls, and the stand was assuming dangerous proportions for Ganguly, when the players left for tea, with the score reading 93 for one. Zaheer breached Fleming's defence after the break getting the ball to cut in from just outside the left-hander's off-stump, and the scalp of the New Zealand skipper was a much-needed one for India. Craig McMillan, who rather surprisingly surfaced ahead of Astle, was adjudged leg-before to Bangar off the 13th delivery he faced, with the team's score on 111, and there was a possibility of the ball missing the leg-stump! Astle padded up to Agarkar and survived a vociferous shout for leg-before, but soon thumped Zaheer through the covers to signal his intentions and batted positive driving, flicking and pulling before Zaheer produced that special one. Zaheer and Harbhajan were the men of the day for India, but Bangar played a vital role as an all-rounder. He may be a limited paceman, but is someone who understands his limitations and did not attempt to do too much, keeping the ball on a length, adjusting his line to the right-handers and the southpaws admirably. In a fine spell of 6-2-8-1 in the afternoon, Bangar operated against the wind, from the R.A. Vance end, a role that the much bigger built and stronger Jacob Oram had performed for New Zealand. But then, Bangar has a heart as huge as anyone else.
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