Date:09/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/09/stories/2004080903551700.htm

Sport - Cricket

India `A' continues to dominate

HARARE, AUG. 8. India `A' continued its dominance over Zimbabwe `A', reducing the host to 128 for four, after taking a 213-run first innings lead on the third day of the four-day game at the Country Club ground.

Paceman Shib Sankar Paul scalped three home batsmen to take his match tally to nine so far.

The plight of the Zimbabwe innings might have been worse, but for an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 99 between Alester Maregwede (40 batting) and Elton Chigumbura (58 batting).

Earlier India `A' declared its first innings at 413 for nine. Skipper Sairaj Bahutule (101 not out) became the second century maker of the innings after Rohan Gavaskar, celebrating his selection in the Indian team for the Holland tri-series and the NatWest Challenge, scored 127.

Zimbabwe `A' paceman Tinashe Panyangara picked up four wickets for 87 runs.

The scores:

Zimbabwe `A' 200 & 128 for four in 52 overs (Alester Maregwede 40 batting, Elton Chigumbura 58 batting) vs India `A' 413 for nine decl. in 136.1 overs (Akash Chopra 35, Gautam Gambhir 41, Dheeraj Jadhav 40, Rohan Gavaskar 127, Sairaj Bahutule 101 not out, Tinashe Panyangara four for 87).