1st Test: India v Zimbabwe at Nagpur, 21-25 Feb 2002 CricInfo Live Report

1st Test: India v Zimbabwe at Nagpur, 21-25 Feb 2002
Anand Vasu and Santhosh S

India 1st innings: Lunch - Day 2, Tea - Day 2, Stumps - Day 2,
Zimbabwe 1st innings: End of innings,
Live Reports from previous days

DAS MAKES TON, FALLS IN THE TWILIGHT
One doesn’t know whether Shiv Sunder Das likes oranges. He certainly likes the ‘Orange City’ of Nagpur though. In the 66th over of the day, Das leaned back and punched a Trevor Gripper off break through covers to bring up his second successive ton at Nagpur. The victims first time around were Zimbabwe. Perhaps it’s just the bowling then, and not the venue. Dravid, who amassed 200 last time around when these teams clashed at the same venue, was happy to pick up an unbeaten 57 as India reached 209/2 at the end of the second day’s play.

It was on November 25th in 2000 that Das brought up his maiden Test hundred. Stuart Carlisle will have bad memories of that match, but this one is shaping up to be just as bad. With VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly still to come and Tendulkar at the crease, on paper, the best Indian batting of this match is still to come. Das, with his knock of 105 (203 balls, 19 fours) has made sure that Zimbabwe are on the back foot already. Unfortunately for the youngster, he chopped Price to Alistair Campbell at slip.

The scoring rate is an unimpressive 2.82 but that wont bother the Indians too much. The bowlers are tired, the wicket still very much full of runs and an all out attack beckons.

Dravid clearly is not the man to take part in any such moves. The Karnataka middle-order knows his place in the side, and indeed his role, and was content waiting for the loose ball. The Zimbabwean bowlers, unable to attack on this wicket, made the mistake of straying on the pads far too often and were punished. Dravid struck Brighton Watambwa beautifully through covers in the 72nd over of the innings to bring up his half century. The knock, that comes after a lay-off due to shoulder injury, included 8 hits to the fence and came off 141 balls.

INDIA MOTOR ON DESPITE DASGUPTA WICKET
Deep Dasgupta’s vigil at the crease was brought to an end by a fine piece of bowling by the only spinner in this Zimbabwe team. Ray Price, bowling his left arm spin from around the wicket, bowled a tidy line and length; just short of a length and outside the off, spinning away a touch.

Surprising Dasgupta, Price floated in an arm ball, the batsman shouldered arms and watched in amazement as the ball clipped the off stump. Dasgupta’s 33, saw India reach 79 for the fall for the first wicket.

Shiv Sunder Das however, was unfazed by the loss of his opening partner. The small made Orissa batsman trudged on in characteristic fashion, taking no risks and attempting no expansive shots. Das, in the company of Dravid, took India to 115/1 at tea on the second day. Das, batting on 66 (122 balls, 12 fours) looks set for a big score.

Rahul Dravid, with a patient 11 from 40 balls, is keeping his partner good company. On a track that is doing nothing at all for the bowlers, Zimbabwe will have to bowl out of their skins to restrict India. A run glut is on the offing – just how much, is the question.

INDIAN OPENERS BAT THROUGH TO LUNCH
The crowds did not throng to the Vidarbha Cricket Association in Nagpur on the morning of the second day. Perhaps it was because they anticipated the fact that the Zimbabwe tail would prolong their innings. Or maybe because they knew that the Zimbabwe bowling would have trouble dismissing dour openers Deep Dasgupta and Shiv Sunder Das.

There will be a massive surge in crowds however, later in the day, when the big guns come out to bat. For now, not too many witnessed India reaching 41 for no loss after 13 overs.

There was some lateral movement for Heath Streak early in the innings. The new ball had just enough in it to shape away every now and then. The swing, however, was largely predictable and did not trouble the batsmen. What did make a difference was the extra bounce Streak managed to get off the wicket every time he bent his back. On more than one occasion, Dasgupta had to awkwardly fend the ball away.

Till lunch however, the Zimbabweans could not break up the Das-Dasgupta partnership. The stumper had a painful 12 from 43 balls to his name while Das, playing a few more strokes than his partner was on 28 including seven boundaries.

FRIEND TAKES ZIMBABWE TO 287
Before he can get his hands on the ball, Travis Friend is already making his mark in the first Test against India at Nagpur. Beginning the second day on 248/8, the Zimbabwe tail put together a spirited resistance. Friend was the one most responsible, with a cracking unbeaten 60 (70 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) that took the visitors to 287 all out.

Ray Price, who shared a 59-run partnership with Friend for the ninth wicket made 18 valuable runs before being run out, quite against the run of play. Brighton Watambwa, who does not make too many claims of being a champion batter was trapped plumb in front by an Anil Kumble skidder.

After being 194/7, Zimbabwe have done well to reach 287. India will be disappointed that they could not wrap things up earlier and will be looking to make amends when they bat.